Display panel and metal mask for the same

ABSTRACT

A display panel includes: a pixel circuit including at least one thin film transistor; and a unit pixel group connected to the pixel circuit, the unit pixel group including: four first color light emitting patterns; two second color light emitting patterns having different shapes from each other; and two third color light emitting patterns having different shapes from each other. The first, second, and third color light emitting patterns are to display different colors from one another, and the first color light emitting patterns include: two first color first light emitting patterns having the same shape as each other; and two first color second light emitting patterns having the same shape as each other, and different from the shape of the first color first light emitting patterns.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2022-0026397, filed on Feb. 28, 2022, the entirecontent of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a displaypanel, and a metal mask for the same. More particularly, aspects ofembodiments of the present disclosure relate to a display panelincluding an organic pattern, and a metal mask used to manufacture thesame.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a light emitting display device includes pixels, and lightemitting elements disposed in the pixels, respectively. Each lightemitting element includes a light emitting layer disposed between twoelectrodes. The light emitting layers disposed in the pixels areclassified into a plurality of groups.

A mask assembly is used to deposit the plurality of groups of lightemitting layers on a work substrate. The mask assembly includes a frame,a support stick, and a mask. The light emitting layers are formed bydepositing a light emitting material on the work substrate after thework substrate is disposed on the mask.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is forenhancement of understanding of the background of the presentdisclosure, and therefore, it may contain information that does notconstitute prior art.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to ametal mask having reduced deformation that may be caused by stress.

One or more embodiments of present disclosure are directed to a displaypanel manufactured using the metal mask.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, adisplay panel includes: a pixel circuit including at least one thin filmtransistor; and a unit pixel group connected to the pixel circuit, theunit pixel group including: four first color light emitting patterns;two second color light emitting patterns having different shapes fromeach other; and two third color light emitting patterns having differentshapes from each other. The first, second, and third color lightemitting patterns are configured to display different colors from oneanother, and the first color light emitting patterns include: two firstcolor first light emitting patterns having the same shape as each other;and two first color second light emitting patterns having the same shapeas each other, and different from the shape of the first color firstlight emitting patterns.

In an embodiment, each of the first, second, and third color lightemitting patterns may have a triangular shape.

In an embodiment, the first color second light emitting patterns mayhave the same shape as a shape obtained by rotating the first colorfirst light emitting patterns by about 90 degrees, and shifting therotated first color first light emitting patterns.

In an embodiment, the second color light emitting patterns may include:a second color first light emitting pattern located between the firstcolor first light emitting patterns; and a second color second lightemitting pattern located between the first color second light emittingpatterns.

In an embodiment, directions in which sides of the second color firstlight emitting pattern facing the first color first light emittingpatterns extend may form an acute angle, and directions in which sidesof the second color second light emitting pattern facing the first colorsecond light emitting patterns extend may form an acute angle.

In an embodiment, the second color second light emitting pattern mayhave the same shape as a shape obtained by rotating the second colorfirst light emitting pattern by about 90 degrees, and shifting therotated second color first light emitting pattern.

In an embodiment, the third color light emitting patterns may include: athird color first light emitting pattern including a side facing one ofthe first color first light emitting patterns, or one of the first colorsecond light emitting patterns; and a third color second light emittingpattern located between another of the first color first light emittingpatterns and another of the first color second light emitting patterns.Directions in which sides of the third color second light emittingpattern facing the first color first light emitting pattern and thefirst color second light emitting pattern extend may form an acuteangle.

In an embodiment, the third color second light emitting pattern may havethe same shape as a shape obtained by rotating the third color firstlight emitting pattern by about 90 degrees, and shifting the rotatedthird color first light emitting pattern.

In an embodiment, the first color light emitting patterns may bearranged along a first direction, and the first color first lightemitting patterns and the first color second light emitting patterns maybe spaced from each other in a second direction crossing the firstdirection.

In an embodiment, the second color first light emitting pattern and thethird color first light emitting pattern may be arranged along the firstdirection, and may have the same shape as each other.

In an embodiment, the second color light emitting patterns and the thirdcolor light emitting patterns may be linearly symmetrical with the firstcolor light emitting patterns with respect to a symmetrical axisparallel to a diagonal direction crossing the first and seconddirections.

In an embodiment, a minimum distance between the first color lightemitting patterns may be greater than or equal to about 15 micrometers.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a metalmask includes: a first opening: and a second opening spaced from thefirst opening in a first direction, and having a shape different from ashape of the first opening. Each of the first opening and the secondopening has a left-right asymmetric shape, and the second opening hasthe same shape as a shape obtained by rotating the first opening byabout 90 degrees, and shifting the rotated first opening.

In an embodiment, the first opening may include a plurality of firstopenings, the second opening may include a plurality of second openings,and the first openings and the second openings may be arranged along afirst direction, and a second direction crossing the first direction.The first openings may be alternately arranged with the second openingsalong the second direction.

In an embodiment, the first direction and the second direction may forman acute angle.

In an embodiment, a distance in the second direction between the firstopenings may be greater than a distance between the first opening andthe second opening adjacent to the first opening in the first direction.

In an embodiment, the rotation of the first opening may be in aclockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction.

In an embodiment, each of the first opening and the second opening mayhave a right triangular shape including vertices having a rounded shape.

In an embodiment, each of the vertices may have a radius of curvaturegreater than or equal to about 8 micrometers.

In an embodiment, a minimum distance between the first opening and thesecond opening may be greater than or equal to about 15 micrometers.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure,reliability of the metal mask may be improved.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, processreliability of the display panel may be enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure willbe more clearly understood from the following detailed description ofthe illustrative, non-limiting embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-1B are perspective views of an electronic device according toone or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of an electronic deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of an electronic device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a display module according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a display panel shownin FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a deposition apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mask assembly;

FIG. 6A is a plan view of an area of a first work substrate according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of an area in which a mask is coupledwith a work substrate;

FIG. 6C is a plan view of an area of a second work substrate accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6D is an enlarged plan view of a unit pixel group;

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a portion of a mask according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 7B is a plan view of an area of a work substrate;

FIG. 8A is a plan view of a portion of a mask according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B is a plan view of an area of a work substrate;

FIG. 9A is a plan view of a portion of a mask according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 9B is a plan view of an area of a work substrate;

FIG. 10A is a plan view of an area of a display panel according to acomparative example;

FIGS. 10B-10C are plan views of masks according to comparative examples;

FIG. 11A is a plan view of an area of a display panel according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 11B-11C are plan views of masks according to one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 12A-12B are plan views of areas of display panels according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in more detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers refer tolike elements throughout. The present disclosure, however, may beembodied in various different forms, and should not be construed asbeing limited to only the illustrated embodiments herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided as examples so that this disclosure will bethorough and complete, and will fully convey the aspects and features ofthe present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,processes, elements, and techniques that are not necessary to thosehaving ordinary skill in the art for a complete understanding of theaspects and features of the present disclosure may not be described.Unless otherwise noted, like reference numerals denote like elementsthroughout the attached drawings and the written description, and thus,redundant description thereof may not be repeated.

When a certain embodiment may be implemented differently, a specificprocess order may be different from the described order. For example,two consecutively described processes may be performed at the same orsubstantially at the same time, or may be performed in an order oppositeto the described order.

In the drawings, the relative sizes, thicknesses, and ratios ofelements, layers, and regions may be exaggerated and/or simplified forclarity. Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,”“under,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofexplanation to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will beunderstood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of the device in use or in operation, in additionto the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the devicein the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or“beneath” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented“above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms “below”and “under” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. Thedevice may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at otherorientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein shouldbe interpreted accordingly.

In the figures, a first direction DR1, a second direction DR2, and athird direction DR3 indicated by the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axisare not limited to three axes of the rectangular coordinate system, andmay be interpreted in a broader sense. For example, the first directionDR1, the second direction DR2, and the third direction DR3 may beperpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to one another, or mayrepresent different directions from each other that are notperpendicular to one another.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,”“third,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements,components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms.These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region,layer or section from another element, component, region, layer orsection. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or sectiondescribed below could be termed a second element, component, region,layer or section, without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, itcan be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element orlayer, or one or more intervening elements or layers may be present.Similarly, when a layer, an area, or an element is referred to as being“electrically connected” to another layer, area, or element, it may bedirectly electrically connected to the other layer, area, or element,and/or may be indirectly electrically connected with one or moreintervening layers, areas, or elements therebetween. In addition, itwill also be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “between” two elements or layers, it can be the only element orlayer between the two elements or layers, or one or more interveningelements or layers may also be present.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the presentdisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intendedto include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “have,” and“having,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of thestated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes anyand all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Forexample, the expression “A and/or B” denotes A, B, or A and B.Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list ofelements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify theindividual elements of the list. For example, the expression “at leastone of a, b, or c,” “at least one of a, b, and c,” and “at least oneselected from the group consisting of a, b, and c” indicates only a,only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, all of a, b,and c, or variations thereof.

As used herein, the term “substantially,” “about,” and similar terms areused as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and areintended to account for the inherent variations in measured orcalculated values that would be recognized by those of ordinary skill inthe art. Further, the use of “may” when describing embodiments of thepresent disclosure refers to “one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure.” As used herein, the terms “use,” “using,” and “used” may beconsidered synonymous with the terms “utilize,” “utilizing,” and“utilized,” respectively. Also, the term “exemplary” is intended torefer to an example or illustration.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. Itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and/orthe present specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealizedor overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of an electronic device EDaccording to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1Ashows the electronic device ED in an unfolded state, and FIG. 1B showsthe electronic device ED in a folded state.

A display surface DS of the electronic device ED may include a displayarea DA, and a non-display area NDA around (e.g., adjacent to) thedisplay area DA. An image IM may be displayed through the display areaDA, and no images may be displayed through the non-display area NDA. Thenon-display area NDA may surround (e.g., around a periphery of) thedisplay area DA, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, andthe shape of the display area DA and the shape of the non-display areaNDA may be various modified as needed or desired.

Hereinafter, a direction that is perpendicular to or substantiallyperpendicular to a plane defined by a first directional axis DR1 and asecond directional axis DR2 may be referred to as a third directionalaxis DR3. As used in the present disclosure, the expressions “viewed ina plane” and “in a plan view” may refer to a state of being viewed in(or from) the third directional axis DR3.

A sensing area ED-SA may be defined at (e.g., in or on) the display areaDA of the electronic device ED. FIG. 1A shows one sensing area ED-SA asa representative example, but the number of the sensing areas ED-SA isnot particularly limited thereto. The sensing area ED-SA may be aportion of the display area DA. Accordingly, the electronic device EDmay display the image IM through the sensing area ED-SA.

The electronic device ED may include an electronic module (e.g., acamera or sensor) disposed in an area overlapping with the sensing areaED-SA. The electronic module may receive an external input provided fromthe outside through the sensing area ED-SA, and/or may provide an outputthrough the sensing area ED-SA. As an example, the electronic module mayinclude (e.g., may be) a camera module (e.g., a camera), a sensor thatmeasures a distance, such as a proximity sensor, a sensor thatrecognizes a part of a user's body (e.g., a fingerprint, an iris, or aface), or a small lamp that outputs light. However, the electronicmodule is not particularly limited thereto. Hereinafter, forconvenience, the camera module will be described as an example of theelectronic module overlapping with the sensing area ED-SA.

The electronic device ED may include a folding area FA, and a pluralityof non-folding areas NFA1 and NFA2. The non-folding areas NFA1 and NFA2may include a first non-folding area NFA1 and a second non-folding areaNFA2. In the second directional axis DR2, the folding area FA may bedisposed between the first non-folding area NFA1 and the secondnon-folding area NFA2. The folding area FA may be referred to as afoldable area, and the first and second non-folding areas NFA1 and NFA2may be referred to as first and second non-foldable areas, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the folding area FA may be folded with respect to afolding axis FX that is parallel or substantially parallel to the firstdirectional axis DR1. When the electronic device ED is folded, thefolding area FA may have a suitable curvature (e.g., a predeterminedcurvature) and a radius of curvature. The electronic device ED may beinwardly folded (e.g., inner-folding), such that the first non-foldingarea NFA1 and the second non-folding area NFA2 may face each other, andthe display surface DS may not be exposed to the outside.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device ED may be outwardlyfolded (e.g., outer-folding), such that the display surface DS may beexposed to the outside. According to an embodiment, the electronicdevice ED may be configured to repeatedly perform the inner-foldingoperation and/or the outer-folding operation with an unfoldingoperation. According to an embodiment, the electronic device ED may beconfigured to selectively perform the unfolding operation, theinner-folding operation, and the outer-folding operation.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a foldable electronic device ED, but the presentdisclosure is not limited to the foldable electronic device ED. As anexample, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure describedherein may be applied to a rigid electronic device, for example, such asan electronic device that does not include the folding area FA.

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device EDaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2B is a blockdiagram of the electronic device ED according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the electronic device ED may include adisplay module (e.g., a display or a touch-display) DM, a window WM, afirst electronic module (e.g., an electronic circuit or board) EM1, asecond electronic module (e.g., an electronic component or a sensor)EM2, a power supply module (e.g., a power supply) PM, and housings EDC1and EDC2. Although not shown in figures, the electronic device ED mayfurther include a structure (e.g., a hinge) to control a foldingoperation of the display module DM.

The display module DM may generate the image IM, and may sense anexternal input. The display module DM may include a display area DP-DAand a non-display area DP-NDA, which correspond to the display area DAand the non-display area NDA (e.g., refer to FIG. 1A), respectively. Asused in the present disclosure, the expression “an area/portioncorresponds to another area/portion” means that “an area/portionoverlaps with another area/portion”, but the “areas and portions” arenot limited to having the same size as each other.

The display area DP-DA may include a first area A1 and a second area A2.The first area A1 may overlap with or correspond to the sensing areaED-SA (e.g., refer to FIG. 1A) of the electronic device ED. In thepresent embodiment, the first area A1 is shown as having a circularshape, but the shape of the first area A1 is not limited thereto orthereby. The first area A1 may have a variety of suitable shapes, suchas a polygonal shape, an oval shape, a figure having at least one curvedside, or an irregular shape. The first area A1 may be referred to as acomponent area, and the second area A2 may be referred to as a maindisplay area or a normal display area.

The first area A1 may have a transmittance that is higher than that ofthe second area A2. In addition, the first area A1 may have a resolutionthat is lower than that of the second area A2. The first area A1 mayoverlap with a camera module (e.g., a camera) CMM.

The display module DM may include a display panel DP, a driving circuitDIC, and a circuit board FCB. The display panel DP, the driving circuitDIC, and the circuit board FCB may be electrically connected to eachother. Referring to FIG. 2B, the display panel DP may include a displaylayer 100 and a sensor layer 200.

The display layer 100 may have a configuration that generates the imageIM. The display layer 100 may be a light emitting type display layer.For example, the display layer 100 may be an organic light emittingdisplay layer, an inorganic light emitting display layer, anorganic-inorganic light emitting display layer, a quantum dot displaylayer, a micro-LED display layer, or a nano-LED display layer.

The sensor layer 200 may sense the external input applied thereto fromthe outside. The external input may be a user input. The user input mayinclude a variety of suitable external inputs, such as a part of user'sbody, light, heat, pen, or pressure.

The driving circuit DIC may be mounted on the display panel DP in theform of a chip, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.According to an embodiment, the driving circuit DIC may be formedthrough the same or substantially the same process as that of the pixelsof the display area DP-DA, and may be provided as a component of thedisplay panel DP.

In the present embodiment, the driving circuit DIC may be disposed at(e.g., in or on) the non-display area DP-NDA, but the present disclosureis not limited thereto. According to an embodiment, the driving circuitDIC may be disposed at (e.g., in or on) the display area DP-DA tooverlap with the pixels, which will be described in more detail below,when viewed in a plane (e.g., in a plan view).

The driving circuit DIC may include various driving elements (e.g., adata driving circuit) to drive the pixels of the display panel DP. FIG.2A shows a structure in which the driving circuit DIC is mounted on thedisplay panel DP, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto orthereby. As an example, the driving circuit DIC may be mounted on thecircuit board FCB.

The circuit board FCB may be connected to the display panel DP. Thecircuit board FCB may be attached to the display panel DP by aconductive adhesive film ACF, or may be electrically connected to thedisplay panel DP by an ultrasonic connection. The circuit board FCB maybe provided as a flexible type (FPCB) or a rigid type (PCB), but is notlimited thereto or thereby.

The power supply module PM may supply power used for an overalloperation of the electronic device ED. The power supply module PM mayinclude a battery (e.g., a conventional battery module).

The first electronic module EM1 and the second electronic module EM2 mayinclude various functional modules (e.g., functional devices orcomponents) to operate the electronic device ED. Each of the first andsecond electronic modules EM1 and EM2 may be mounted directly on amother board that is electrically connected to the display panel DP, ormay be electrically connected to the mother board via a connector afterbeing mounted on a separate substrate.

The first electronic module EM1 may include a control module (e.g., acontroller) CTM, a wireless communication module (e.g., a wirelesscommunication device) TM, an image input module (e.g., an image inputdevice) IIM, an audio input module (e.g., a microphone or an audio inputdevice) AIM, a memory MM, and an external interface IF.

The control module CTM may control the overall operation of theelectronic device ED. The control module CTM may be, but is not limitedto, a microprocessor. For example, the control module CTM may activateor deactivate the display panel DP. The control module CTM may controlthe other modules, such as the image input module IIM, the audio inputmodule AIM, and/or the like, based on a touch signal provided from thedisplay panel DP.

The wireless communication module TM may communicate with an externalelectronic device through a first network, for example, such as ashort-range communication network (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi direct, orinfrared data association (IrDA)), and/or a second network, for example,such as a long-range communication network (e.g., a cellular network,the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or WAN)). Communicationmodules included in the wireless communication module TM may beintegrated into one component, for example, such as a single chip, ormay be implemented as a plurality of components that are separated fromeach other, for example, such as a plurality of chips. The wirelesscommunication module TM may transmit/receive a voice signal using ageneral communication line. The wireless communication module TM mayinclude a transmitter TM1 that modulates a signal to be transmitted andtransmits the modulated signal, and a receiver TM2 that demodulates asignal applied thereto.

The image input module IIM may process an image signal, and may convertthe image signal into image data that may be displayed through thedisplay panel DP. The audio input module AIM may receive an externalsound signal through a microphone in a record mode or a voicerecognition mode, and may convert the external sound signal toelectrical voice data.

The external interface IF may include a connector that physicallyconnects the electrode device ED to an external electronic device. Forexample, the external interface IF may serve as an interface between thecontrol module CM and various suitable external devices, such as anexternal charger, a wired/wireless data port, a card socket (e.g., amemory card and/or a SIM/UIM card), and/or the like.

The second electronic module EM2 may include an audio output module(e.g., a speaker or an audio output device) AOM, a light emitting module(e.g., a flash light or a light emitting device) LTM, a light receivingmodule (e.g., a light receiving device or sensor) LRM, and the cameramodule CMM. The audio output module AOM may convert audio data providedfrom the wireless communication module TM or audio data stored in thememory MM, and may output the converted audio data to the outside.

The light emitting module LTM may generate and emit light. The lightemitting module LTM may emit an infrared light. The light emittingmodule LTM may include an LED element. The light receiving module LRMmay sense the infrared light. The light receiving module LRM may beactivated when the infrared light above a predetermined level is sensed.The light receiving module LRM may include a CMOS sensor. The infraredlight generated and emitted from the light emitting module LTM may bereflected by an external object, for example, such as a user's finger orface, and the reflected infrared light may be incident into the lightreceiving module LRM.

The camera module CMM may take a photo or a video. The camera module CMMmay be provided in a plurality. Some of the camera modules CMM mayoverlap with the first area A1. An external input, for example, such aslight, may be provided to the camera module CMM through the first areaA1. As an example, the camera module CMM may receive natural lightthrough the first area A1 from the outside to take a picture of anexternal object.

The housings EDC1 and EDC2 may accommodate the display module DM, thefirst and second electronic modules EM1 and EM2, and the power supplymodule PM. The housings EDC1 and EDC2 may protect the componentsaccommodated therein, such as the display module DM, the first andsecond electronic modules EM1 and EM2, and the power supply module PM.FIG. 2A shows two housings EDC1 and EDC2 that are separated (e.g.,spaced apart) from each other, but the structure of the housings are notlimited thereto or thereby. Although not shown in figures, theelectronic device ED may further include a hinge structure to connectthe two housings EDC1 and EDC2 to each other. The housings EDC1 and EDC2may be coupled with (e.g., connected to or attached to) the window WM.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the display module DM according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional viewof a portion of the display panel DP shown in FIG. 3A. Hereinafter, oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in moredetail with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the display panel DP may include the pixels PX.The pixels PX may be disposed at (e.g., in or on) the display areaDP-DA. A scan driver SDV, a data driver, and an emission driver EDV maybe disposed at (e.g., in or on) the non-display area DP-NDA. The datadriver may be a circuit provided in the driving circuit DIC.

The display area DP-DA may include the first area A1 and the second areaA2. The first area A1 and the second area A2 may be distinguished fromeach other by an arrangement distance between the pixels PX, a size ofthe pixels PX, and/or a presence or absence of a transmission area. Thefirst area A1 and the second area A2 will be described in more detailbelow.

The display panel DP may include a first panel area AA1, a bending areaBA, and a second panel area AA2, which are defined along the seconddirectional axis DR2. The second panel area AA2 and the bending area BAmay be areas of the non-display area DP-NDA. The bending area BA may bedefined between the first panel area AA1 and the second panel area AA2.

The first panel area AA1 may correspond to the display surface DS (e.g.,see FIG. 1A). The first panel area AA1 may include a first non-foldingarea NFA10, a second non-folding area NFA20, and a folding area FAO. Thefirst non-folding area NFA10, the second non-folding area NFA20, and thefolding area FAO may correspond to the first non-folding area NFA1, thesecond non-folding area NFA2, and the folding area FA (e.g., see FIGS.1A and 1B), respectively.

The bending area BA may correspond to an area that is bent when theelectronic device ED is assembled. As the display panel DP includes thebending area BA, the electronic device ED with a narrow bezel may beimplemented (e.g., may be easily implemented).

A width (e.g., a length) in the first directional axis DR1 of thebending area BA and a width (e.g., a length) in the first directionalaxis DR1 of the second panel area AA2 may be smaller than a width (e.g.,a length) in the first directional axis DR1 of the first panel area AA1.An area having a relatively short length in a bending axis direction maybe relatively easily bent.

The display panel DP may include the pixels PX, a plurality of scanlines SL1 to SLm, a plurality of data lines DL1 to DLn, a plurality ofemission control lines ECL1 to ECLm, first and second control lines CSL1and CSL2, a driving voltage line PL, and a plurality of pads PD. In thepresent embodiment, each of m and n is a natural number. The pixels PXmay be connected to the scan lines SL1 to SLm, the data lines DL1 toDLn, and the emission control lines ECL1 to ECLm.

The scan lines SL1 to SLm may extend in the first directional axis DR1,and may be electrically connected to the scan driver SDV. The data linesDL1 to DLn may extend in the second directional axis DR2, and may beelectrically connected to the driving circuit DIC via the bending areaBA. The emission control lines ECL1 to ECLm may extend in the firstdirectional axis DR1, and may be electrically connected to the emissiondriver EDV.

The driving voltage line PL may include a portion extending in the firstdirectional axis DR1, and a portion extending in the second directionalaxis DR2. The portion extending in the first directional axis DR1 andthe portion extending in the second directional axis DR2 may be disposedat (e.g., in or on) different layers from each other. The portion of thedriving voltage line PL, which extends in the second directional axisDR2, may extend to the second panel area AA2 via the bending area BA.The driving voltage line PL may provide a first voltage to the pixelsPX.

The first control line CSL1 may be connected to the scan driver SDV, andmay extend to a lower end of the second panel area AA2 via the bendingarea BA. The second control line CSL2 may be connected to the emissiondriver EDV, and may extend to the lower end of the second panel area AA2via the bending area BA.

When viewed in a plane (e.g., in a plan view), the pads PD may bedisposed adjacent to the lower end of the second panel area AA2. Thedriving circuit DIC, the driving voltage line PL, the first control lineCSL1, and the second control line CSL2 may be electrically connected tothe pads PD. The circuit board FCB may be electrically connected to thepads PD. The circuit board FCB may be connected to the pads PD throughan anisotropic conductive adhesive layer.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the display panel DP may include a display layer100, a sensor layer 200, and an anti-reflective layer 300. The displaylayer 100 may include a substrate 110, a circuit layer 120, a lightemitting element layer 130, and an encapsulation layer 140.

The substrate 110 may include a plurality of layers 111, 112, 113, and114. As an example, the substrate 110 may include a first sub-base layer111, a first intermediate barrier layer 112, a second intermediatebarrier layer 113, and a second sub-base layer 114. The first sub-baselayer 111, the first intermediate barrier layer 112, the secondintermediate barrier layer 113, and the second sub-base layer 114 may besequentially stacked in the third directional axis DR3.

Each of the first sub-base layer 111 and the second sub-base layer 114may include at least one of a polyimide-based resin, an acrylic-basedresin, a methacrylic-based resin, a polyisoprene-based resin, avinyl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, a urethane-based resin, acellulose-based resin, a siloxane-based resin, a polyamide-based resin,or a perylene-based resin. Meanwhile, as used in the present disclosure,the term “X-based resin” means that a functional group of “X” isincluded in the resin. A barrier layer BR may be disposed on thesubstrate 110.

Each of the first and second intermediate barrier layers 112 and 113 mayinclude an inorganic material. Each of the first and second intermediatebarrier layers 112 and 113 may include at least one of silicon oxide,silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or amorphous silicon. As anexample, each of the first sub-base layer 111 and the second sub-baselayer 114 may include polyimide, the first intermediate barrier layer112 may include silicon oxynitride (SiON), and the second intermediatebarrier layer 113 may include silicon oxide (SiOX).

In other words, the first intermediate barrier layer 112 may have arefractive index corresponding to a value between a refractive index ofthe first sub-base layer 111 and a refractive index of the secondintermediate barrier layer 113. As a difference in the refractive indexbetween layers that are in contact with each other decreases, areflection of light at an interface between the layers that are incontact with each other may be reduced. However, the present disclosureis not limited thereto, and each of the layers may include varioussuitable materials, and are not particularly limited to the examplematerials described above.

The first sub-base layer 111 may have a thickness (e.g., in the thirddirection DR3) greater than a thickness (e.g., in the third directionDR3) of the second sub-base layer 114, but the present disclosure is notlimited thereto or thereby. A thickness of the first intermediatebarrier layer 112 may be smaller than a thickness of the secondintermediate barrier layer 113. However, the thickness of each of thefirst and second intermediate barrier layers 112 and 113 is not limitedthereto or thereby.

The circuit layer 120 may include a pixel circuit PC, and a plurality ofinsulating layers BR, BF, and 10 to 80. The insulating layers BR, BF,and 10 to 80 may include the barrier layer BR, a buffer layer BF, andfirst, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighthinsulating layers 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80, which are arranged(e.g., stacked) along the third directional axis DR3.

The pixel circuit PC may include a light blocking layer BML, a pluralityof thin film transistors S-TFT and O-TFT, and a storage capacitor Cst.The pixel circuit PC, along with a light emitting element LD connectedthereto, may form the pixel PX. The pixel PX may include the thin filmtransistors S-TFT and O-TFT, and the light emitting element LD. Forconvenience of illustration, FIG. 3B shows two thin film transistorsS-TFT and O-TFT (hereinafter, referred to as a first thin filmtransistor and a second thin film transistor, respectively) as arepresentative example. According to an embodiment, the number of thethin film transistors of the pixel PX may be variously modified asneeded or desired, and thus, is not particularly limited.

The barrier layer BR may be disposed on the substrate 110. The barrierlayer BR may include a first sub-barrier layer BR1 disposed on thesubstrate 110, and a second sub-barrier layer BR2 disposed on the firstsub-barrier layer BR1.

Each of the first and second sub-barrier layers BR1 and BR2 may includean inorganic material. Each of the first and second sub-barrier layersBR1 and BR2 may include at least one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride,silicon oxynitride, or amorphous silicon. As an example, the firstsub-barrier layer BR1 may include silicon oxynitride (SiON), and thesecond sub-barrier layer BR2 may include silicon oxide (SiOX).

The first sub-barrier layer BR1 may have a refractive indexcorresponding to a value between a refractive index of the secondsub-base layer 114 and a refractive index of the second sub-barrierlayer BR2. As a difference in the refractive index between layers thatare in contact with each other decreases, a reflection of light at aninterface between the layers that are in contact with each other may bereduced. As a result, the transmittance of light passing through atransmission area (e.g., at or overlapping with the first area A1) maybe improved. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, andeach of the first and second sub-barrier layers BR1 and BR2 may includevarious suitable materials.

The light blocking layer BML may be disposed on the barrier layer BR.The light blocking layer BML may include molybdenum (Mo), an alloyincluding molybdenum (Mo), silver (Ag), an alloy including silver (Ag),aluminum (Al), an alloy including aluminum (Al), aluminum nitride (AlN),tungsten (W), tungsten nitride (WN), copper (Cu), titanium Ti, p+ dopedamorphous silicon, MoTaOx, and/or the like, but the present disclosureis not limited thereto or thereby. The light blocking layer BML may bereferred to as a rear surface metal layer, or a rear surface layer.

The light blocking layer BML may include a first light blocking layerBMLa and a second light blocking layer BMLb, which are disposed at(e.g., in or on) different layers from each other. The first lightblocking layer BMLa and the second light blocking layer BMLb may blocklight incident into the first and second thin film transistors S-TFT andO-TFT, respectively, from a rear surface of the substrate 110.Accordingly, defects, such as, changes in characteristics of the firstand second thin film transistors S-TFT and O-TFT or generation of noisesignals by the light, may be prevented or substantially prevented.

The first light blocking layer BMLa may be disposed on the firstsub-barrier layer BR1, and may be disposed in the second sub-barrierlayer BR2. In other words, the first light blocking layer BMLa may beformed after a portion of the second sub-barrier layer BR2 in athickness direction (e.g., the third direction DR3) is formed, and then,another portion of the second sub-barrier layer BR2 in the thicknessdirection may be formed to cover the first light blocking layer BMLa.However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the firstlight blocking layer BMLa may be disposed under or above the secondsub-barrier layer BR2, as long as the first light blocking layer BMLa isdisposed under the first thin film transistor S-TFT, but is notparticularly limited thereto.

The buffer layer BF may be disposed on the barrier layer BR. The bufferlayer BF may prevent or substantially prevent metal atoms or impuritiesfrom being diffused to a first semiconductor pattern of the first thinfilm transistor S-TFT from the substrate 110. In addition, the bufferlayer BF may control a rate of heat supply during a crystallizationprocess to form the first semiconductor pattern, so that the firstsemiconductor pattern of the first thin film transistor S-TFT may beuniformly or substantially uniformly formed.

The buffer layer BF may include a first sub-buffer layer BF1, and asecond sub-buffer layer BF2 disposed on the first sub-buffer layer BF1.Each of the first sub-buffer layer BF1 and the second sub-buffer layerBF2 may include at least one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, orsilicon oxynitride. As an example, the first sub-buffer layer BF1 mayinclude silicon nitride, and the second sub-buffer layer BF2 may includesilicon oxide.

In some embodiments, a portion of the second sub-buffer layer BF2 may beremoved at (e.g., in or on) the first area A1. Accordingly, a thicknessof a portion of the second sub-buffer layer BF2 disposed at (e.g., in oron) second area A2 may be greater than a thickness of the portion of thesecond sub-buffer layer BF2 disposed at (e.g., in or on) the first areaA1. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and thesecond sub-buffer layer BF2 may have a uniform or substantially uniformthickness at (e.g., in or on) the first area A1 and the second area A2,but is not particularly limited thereto.

The first to eighth insulating layers 10 to 80 may include a pluralityof inorganic insulating layers. According to an embodiment, at leastsome of the layers from among the first insulating layer 10 to the fifthinsulating layer 50 that are sequentially disposed on the buffer layerBF may be the inorganic insulating layers. As an example, all of thefirst insulating layer 10 to the fifth insulating layer 50 may be theinorganic insulating layers.

The first thin film transistor S-TFT may be disposed on the buffer layerBF. The first thin film transistor S-TFT may include a first gate GT1, afirst source SE1, a first drain DE1, and a first channel AC1. The firstsource SE1, the first drain DE1, and the first channel AC1 may form asingle semiconductor pattern (hereinafter, referred to as the firstsemiconductor pattern).

The first semiconductor pattern may be disposed on the buffer layer BF.The first semiconductor pattern may include a silicon semiconductor. Asan example, the silicon semiconductor may include amorphous silicon orpolycrystalline silicon. For example, the first semiconductor patternmay include low temperature polycrystalline silicon.

For convenience of illustration, FIG. 3B shows a portion of the firstsemiconductor pattern disposed on the buffer layer BF, and the firstsemiconductor pattern may be further disposed at (e.g., in or on) otherareas. The first semiconductor pattern may be arranged with a suitablerule (e.g., a predetermined or specific rule) over the pixels PX. Thefirst semiconductor pattern may have different electrical propertiesdepending on whether or not it is doped, or whether or not it is dopedwith an N-type dopant or a P-type dopant. The first semiconductorpattern may include a first region having a relatively highconductivity, and a second region having a relatively low conductivity.The first region may be doped with the N-type dopant or the P-typedopant. A P-type transistor may include a doped region doped with theP-type dopant, and an N-type transistor may include a doped region dopedwith the N-type dopant. The second region may be a non-doped region, ora region doped at a concentration lower than that of the first region.

The first region may have a conductivity greater than that of the secondregion, and may be a source area or a drain area of the first thin filmtransistor S-TFT, or may serve as or substantially serve as an electrodeor a signal line. The second region may correspond to or substantiallycorrespond to an active area (e.g., a channel) of the first thin filmtransistor S-TFT.

In the present embodiment, each of the first source SE1 and the firstdrain DE1 may be a part of the first region, and the first channel AC1may be the second region. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto, and the first source SE1 and the first drain DE1 may beprovided as electrodes spaced apart (e.g., separated) from the firstchannel AC1, and may be connected to the first semiconductor pattern,but are not limited thereto or thereby.

The first gate GT1 may be disposed on the first insulating layer 10. Thefirst gate GT1 may be a portion of a metal pattern. The first gate GT1may overlap with the first channel AC1. The first gate GT1 may be usedas a mask in a process of doping the first semiconductor pattern. Thefirst gate GT1 may include titanium (Ti), silver (Ag), an alloyincluding silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), an alloy including molybdenum(Mo), aluminum (Al), an alloy including aluminum (Al), aluminum nitride(AlN), tungsten (W), tungsten nitride (WN), copper (Cu), indium tinoxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or the like, but is notparticularly limited thereto.

The second insulating layer 20 may be disposed on the first insulatinglayer 10, and may cover the first gate GT1. The second insulating layer20 may be an inorganic layer, and may have a single-layer structure or amulti-layered structure. The second insulating layer 20 may include atleast one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride.According to the present embodiment, the second insulating layer 20 mayhave the multi-layered structure of a silicon oxide layer and a siliconnitride layer.

The third insulating layer 30 may be disposed on the second insulatinglayer 20. The third insulating layer 30 may be an inorganic layer, andmay have a single-layer structure or a multi-layered structure. As anexample, the third insulating layer 30 may have the multi-layeredstructure of a silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer. A secondelectrode CE2 of the storage capacitor Cst may be disposed between thesecond insulating layer 20 and the third insulating layer 30. Inaddition, a first electrode CE1 of the storage capacitor Cst may bedisposed between the first insulating layer 10 and the second insulatinglayer 20.

The second light blocking layer BMLb may be disposed on the secondinsulating layer 20, and may be covered by the third insulating layer30. The second light blocking layer BMLb may be disposed at (e.g., in oron) the same layer as that of the second electrode CE2, and may beconcurrently (e.g., simultaneously or substantially simultaneously)formed with the second electrode CE2 through the same process.Accordingly, process costs may be reduced, and a manufacturing processmay be simplified. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto, and the second light blocking layer BMLb may be disposed at(e.g., in or on) a different layer from a layer at (e.g., in or on)which the second electrode CE2 is disposed, or may be formed of adifferent material from that of the second electrode CE2, but is notparticularly limited thereto.

The second thin film transistor O-TFT may be disposed on the thirdinsulating layer 30. The second thin film transistor O-TFT may include asecond gate GT2, a second source SE2, a second drain DE2, and a secondchannel AC2. The second source SE2, the second drain DE2, and the secondchannel AC2 may form a single semiconductor pattern (hereinafter,referred to as a second semiconductor pattern).

The second semiconductor pattern may be disposed on the third insulatinglayer 30. The second semiconductor pattern may include an oxidesemiconductor. The oxide semiconductor may include a plurality of areasthat are distinguished from each other depending on whether or not ametal oxide is reduced. An area (hereinafter, referred to as a reducedarea) in which the metal oxide is reduced has a conductivity greaterthan that of an area (hereinafter, referred to as a non-reduced area) inwhich the metal oxide is not reduced.

The reduced area may act as a source area or a drain area of the secondthin film transistor O-TFT, or may serve as or substantially serve as anelectrode or a signal line. The non-reduced area may correspond to theactive area (e.g., a channel) of the second thin film transistor O-TFT.

In the present embodiment, each of the second source SE2 and the seconddrain DE2 may be parts of the reduced area, and the second channel AC2may be the non-reduced area, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. According to an embodiment, the second source SE2 and thesecond drain DE2 may be provided as electrodes that are spaced apart(e.g., separated) from the second channel AC2, and may be connected tothe second semiconductor pattern, but are not particularly limitedthereto.

The fourth insulating layer 40 may be disposed on the third insulatinglayer 30. The fourth insulating layer 40 may commonly overlap with thepixels, and may cover the second semiconductor pattern. The fourthinsulating layer 40 may be an inorganic layer, and may have asingle-layer structure or a multi-layered structure. The fourthinsulating layer 40 may include at least one of aluminum oxide, titaniumoxide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, zirconiumoxide, or hafnium oxide.

The second gate GT2 may be disposed on the fourth insulating layer 40.The second gate GT2 may be a portion of a metal pattern. The second gateGT2 may overlap with the second channel AC2 when viewed in a plane(e.g., in a plan view). The second gate GT2 may be used as a mask in aprocess of doping the second semiconductor pattern.

The fifth insulating layer 50 may be disposed on the fourth insulatinglayer 40, and may cover the second gate GT2. The fifth insulating layer50 may be an inorganic layer and/or an organic layer, and may have asingle-layer structure or a multi-layered structure.

A first connection electrode CNE1 may be disposed on the fifthinsulating layer 50. The first connection electrode CNE1 may beconnected to the first drain DE1 via a contact hole defined through(e.g., penetrating) the first, second, third, fourth, and fifthinsulating layers 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. In some embodiments, thedisplay panel DP may further include a connection electrode formed at aposition corresponding to the first connection electrode CNE1 andconnected to the second drain DE2 or the second source SE2, but thepresent disclosure is not particularly limited thereto.

In the present embodiment, the first thin film transistor S-TFT isdescribed as the silicon thin film transistor, and the second thin filmtransistor O-TFT is described as the oxide thin film transistor.However, according to an embodiment, the first thin film transistorS-TFT may be the oxide thin film transistor, and the second thin filmtransistor O-TFT may be the silicon thin film transistor. According toan embodiment, the first and second thin film transistors S-TFT andO-TFT may be formed of the same or substantially the same semiconductormaterial. According to an embodiment, the pixel circuit PC may bedesigned with various suitable thin film transistors as needed ordesired, and is not particularly limited to the examples describedabove.

The circuit layer 120 may include a plurality of organic insulatinglayers disposed on the inorganic insulating layers. As an example, atleast one of the sixth, seventh, and eighth insulating layers 60, 70,and 80 may be an organic insulating layer.

The sixth insulating layer 60 may be disposed on the fifth insulatinglayer 50. The sixth insulating layer 60 may include an organic material.For example, the sixth insulating layer 60 may include a polyimide-basedresin. A second connection electrode CNE2 may be disposed on the sixthinsulating layer 60. The second connection electrode CNE2 may beconnected to the first connection electrode CNE1 through a contact holedefined through (e.g., penetrating) the sixth insulating layer 60.

The seventh insulating layer 70 may be disposed on the sixth insulatinglayer 60, and may cover the second connection electrode CNE2. The eighthinsulating layer 80 may be disposed on the seventh insulating layer 70.

Each of the sixth insulating layer 60, the seventh insulating layer 70,and the eighth insulating layer 80 may be an organic layer. The sixthinsulating layer 60 may be referred to as a first organic insulatinglayer, the seventh insulating layer 70 may be referred to as a secondorganic insulating layer, and the eighth insulating layer 80 may bereferred to as a third organic insulating layer. As an example, each ofthe sixth insulating layer 60, the seventh insulating layer 70, and theeighth insulating layer 80 may include a general-purpose polymer, suchas benzocyclobutene (BCB), polyimide, hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO),polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), or polystyrene (PS), a polymer derivativehaving a phenolic group, an acrylic-based polymer, an imide-basedpolymer, an aryl ether-based polymer, an amide-based polymer, afluorine-based polymer, a p-xylene-based polymer, a vinyl alcohol-basedpolymer, or suitable blends thereof.

At least some insulating layers from among the buffer layer BF, thebarrier layer BR, and the first to eighth insulating layers 10, 20, 30,40, 50, 60, 70, and 80, which are included in the circuit layer 120, maybe provided with an opening (e.g., a predetermined opening) defined(e.g., penetrating) therethrough to overlap with the first area A1.According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, portionsof the insulating layers at (e.g., in or on) an area overlapping withthe first area A1 may be removed, and thus, a transmittance of the firstarea A1 may be increased, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. According to an embodiment, all of the buffer layer BF, thebarrier layer BR, and the first to eighth insulating layers 10, 20, 30,40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 may overlap with the first area A1, and thepresent disclosure is not particularly limited.

The light emitting element layer 130 including the light emittingelement LD may be disposed on the circuit layer 120. The light emittingelement LD may include a pixel electrode AE, a first functional layerHFL, a light emitting layer EL, a second functional layer EFL, and acommon electrode CE. Each of the first functional layer HFL, the secondfunctional layer EFL, and the common electrode CE may be provided in anintegral shape over the display area DP-DA. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. The first functional layer HFL, thesecond functional layer EFL, and the common electrode CE may bepatterned for every pixel PX, and are not particularly limited.

The pixel electrode AE may be disposed on the eighth insulating layer80. The pixel electrode AE may be a semi-transmissive electrode, atransmissive electrode, or a reflective electrode. According to anembodiment, the pixel electrode AE may include a reflective layer formedof Ag, Mg, Al, Pt, Pd, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, or suitable compoundsthereof, and a transparent or semi-transparent electrode layer formed onthe reflective layer. The transparent or semi-transparent electrodelayer may include at least one selected from the group consisting ofindium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium gallium zincoxide (IGZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium oxide (In2O3), and aluminum-dopedzinc oxide (AZO). For example, the pixel electrode AE may have a stackedstructure of ITO/Ag/ITO.

As shown in FIG. 3B, in some embodiments, the pixel electrode AE may beconnected to the first thin film transistor S-TFT via the firstconnection electrode CNE1 and the second connection electrode CNE2.However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to anembodiment, the pixel electrode AE may be connected to the second thinfilm transistor O-TFT, and is not particularly limited.

A pixel definition layer PDL may be disposed on the eighth insulatinglayer 80. The pixel definition layer PDL may have a light absorbingproperty. For example, the pixel definition layer PDL may have a blackcolor. The pixel definition layer PDL may include a black coloringagent. The black coloring agent may include a black dye or a blackpigment. The black coloring agent may include a metal material, such ascarbon black, chromium, or an oxide thereof.

The pixel definition layer PDL may be provided with an opening PDL-OP(hereinafter, referred to as a light emitting opening) defined (e.g.,penetrating) therethrough to expose a portion of the pixel electrode AE.In other words, the pixel definition layer PDL may cover an edge of thepixel electrode AE. In addition, the pixel definition layer PDL maycover a side surface of the eighth insulating layer 80 adjacent to thetransmission area.

The first functional layer HFL may be disposed on the pixel electrode AEand the pixel definition layer PDL. The first functional layer HFL mayinclude a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer, or both the holetransport layer and the hole injection layer. The first functional layerHFL may be disposed over the first area A1 and the second area A2, andthe first functional layer HFL may be disposed at (e.g., in or on) thetransmission area.

The light emitting layer EL may be disposed on the first functionallayer HFL, and may be disposed in an area corresponding to the lightemitting opening PDL-OP of the pixel definition layer PDL. The lightemitting layer EL may include an organic material, an inorganicmaterial, or an organic-inorganic material, which emits light having asuitable color (e.g., a predetermined color). The light emitting layerEL may be disposed at (e.g., in or on) the first area A1 and the secondarea A2.

The second functional layer EFL may be disposed on the first functionallayer HFL, and may cover the light emitting layer EL. The secondfunctional layer EFL may include an electron transport layer, anelectron injection layer, or both the electron transport layer and theelectron injection layer. The second functional layer EFL may bedisposed over the first area A1 and the second area A2, and the secondfunctional layer EFL may also be disposed at (e.g., in or on) thetransmission area.

The common electrode CE may be disposed on the second functional layerEFL. The common electrode CE may be formed of a transmissive electrodelayer, or a semi-transmissive electrode layer. As an example, the commonelectrode CE may include a thin layer, for example, such as an Ag layer,with a suitable light transmittance.

In some embodiments, the light emitting element layer 130 may furtherinclude a capping layer disposed on the common electrode CE. The cappinglayer may include LiF, an inorganic material, and/or an organicmaterial. The capping layer may protect the common electrode CE in aprocess of forming the encapsulation layer 140, and may improve a lightextraction efficiency of the light emitting element LD through arefractive index matching with the common electrode CE.

The encapsulation layer 140 may be disposed on the light emittingelement layer 130. The encapsulation layer 140 may include an inorganiclayer 141, an organic layer 142, and an inorganic layer 143, which aresequentially stacked. However, the layers included in the encapsulationlayer 140 are not limited thereto or thereby.

The inorganic layers 141 and 143 may protect the light emitting elementlayer 130 from moisture and/or oxygen, and the organic layer 142 mayprotect the light emitting element layer 130 from a foreign substance,such as dust particles. The inorganic layers 141 and 143 may include asilicon nitride layer, a silicon oxynitride layer, a silicon oxidelayer, a titanium oxide layer, or an aluminum oxide layer. The organiclayer 142 may include an acrylic-based organic layer, but is not limitedthereto or thereby.

The sensor layer 200 may be disposed on the display layer 100. Thesensor layer 200 may be referred to as a sensor, an input sensing layer,or an input sensing panel. The sensor layer 200 may include a sensorbase layer 210, a first sensor conductive layer 220, a sensor insulatinglayer 230, a second sensor conductive layer 240, and a sensor coverlayer 250.

The sensor base layer 210 may be disposed directly on the display layer100. The sensor base layer 210 may be an inorganic layer including atleast one of silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or silicon oxide.According to an embodiment, the sensor base layer 210 may be an organiclayer including an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, or an imide-basedresin. The sensor base layer 210 may have a single-layer structure or amulti-layered structure of a plurality of layers stacked in the thirddirectional axis DR3.

Each of the first sensor conductive layer 220 and the second sensorconductive layer 240 may have a single-layer structure or amulti-layered structure of a plurality of layers stacked in the thirddirectional axis DR3.

The conductive layer having the single-layer structure may include ametal layer or a transparent conductive layer. The metal layer mayinclude molybdenum, silver, titanium, copper, aluminum, or suitablealloys thereof. The transparent conductive layer may include atransparent conductive oxide, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indiumzinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium zinc tin oxide (ITZO), or thelike. In addition, the transparent conductive layer may include aconductive polymer, such as PEDOT, a metal nanowire, graphene, or thelike.

The conductive layer having the multi-layered structure may include aplurality of metal layers. The metal layers may have a three-layeredstructure of titanium/aluminum/titanium. The conductive layer having themulti-layered structure may include at least one metal layer, and atleast one transparent conductive layer.

The sensor insulating layer 230 may be disposed between the first sensorconductive layer 220 and the second sensor conductive layer 240. Thesensor insulating layer 230 may include an inorganic layer. Theinorganic layer may include at least one of aluminum oxide, titaniumoxide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, zirconiumoxide, or hafnium oxide.

According to an embodiment, the sensor insulating layer 230 may includean organic layer. The organic layer may include at least one of anacrylic-based resin, a methacrylic-based resin, a polyisoprene-basedresin, a vinyl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, a urethane-basedresin, a cellulose-based resin, a siloxane-based resin, apolyimide-based resin, a polyamide-based resin, or a perylene-basedresin.

The sensor cover layer 250 may be disposed on the sensor insulatinglayer 230, and may cover the second sensor conductive layer 240. Thesecond sensor conductive layer 240 may include a conductive pattern,such as a mesh pattern. The sensor cover layer 250 may cover theconductive layer 240, and may reduce a possibility of the occurrence ofdamage in the conductive layer 240 in a subsequent process.

The sensor cover layer 250 may include an inorganic material. As anexample, the sensor cover layer 250 may include silicon nitride, but isnot limited thereto or thereby.

The anti-reflective layer 300 may be disposed on the sensor layer 200.The anti-reflective layer 300 may include a division layer 310, aplurality of color filters 320, and a planarization layer 330.

The division layer 310 may be disposed to overlap with the second sensorconductive layer 240. In the present embodiment, the conductive layer240 may correspond to the second sensor conductive layer 240. The sensorcover layer 250 may be disposed between the division layer 310 and thesecond sensor conductive layer 240. The division layer 310 may preventor substantially prevent external light from being reflected by thesecond sensor conductive layer 240. Materials for the division layer 310are not particularly limited, as long as the materials absorb light.

The division layer 310 may have a black color, and may have a blackcoloring agent. The black coloring agent may include a black dye or ablack pigment. The black coloring agent may include a metal material,such as carbon black, chromium, or an oxide thereof.

The division layer 310 may be provided with a plurality of divisionopenings 310-OP defined (e.g., penetrating) therethrough. The divisionopenings 310-OP may overlap with the light emitting elements LD of thelight emitting layer EL, respectively. The color filters 320 may bedisposed to correspond to the division openings 310-OP, respectively.The color filters 320 may transmit light provided from the lightemitting layer EL overlapping with the color filters 320.

In the present embodiment, at least one of the division layer 310 or thecolor filters 320 may not be disposed at (e.g., in or on) the first areaA1. Accordingly, the light transmittance of the first area A1 may beimproved, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Accordingto an embodiment, the division layer 310 and the color filters 320 maybe partially disposed at (e.g., in or on) the first area A1, as long asthe division layer 310 and the color filters 320 do not affect afunction of the camera module CMM, but are not particularly limited.

The planarization layer 330 may cover the division layer 310 and thecolor filters 320. The planarization layer 330 may include an organicmaterial, and may provide a flat or substantially flat surface at anupper surface thereof. According to an embodiment, the planarizationlayer 330 may be omitted as needed or desired.

According to an embodiment, at least one of the sensor layer 200 or theanti-reflective layer 300 may be omitted in the display panel DP asneeded or desired, and the display panel DP is not particularly limited.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a deposition apparatus DPA. FIG. 5is a perspective view of a mask assembly MSA.

The deposition apparatus DPA may be used to perform a deposition processof the display panel DP, for example, such as the light emitting layerEL shown in FIG. 3B. The deposition apparatus DPA may include adeposition chamber CB, a fixing member CM, a deposition source DS, and amask assembly MSA. In some embodiments, the deposition apparatus DPA mayfurther include additional mechanisms to implement an inline system.

A deposition condition of the deposition chamber CB may be set to avacuum state. The deposition chamber CB may include a bottom surface, aceiling surface, and sidewalls. The bottom surface of the depositionchamber CB may be parallel to or substantially parallel to a planedefined by the first directional axis DR1 and the second directionalaxis DR2. The third directional axis DR3 may indicate a normal linedirection of the bottom surface of the deposition chamber CB.

The fixing member CM may be disposed in the deposition chamber CB, abovethe deposition source DS, and may fix the mask assembly MSA. The fixingmember CM may be installed at the ceiling surface of the depositionchamber CB. The fixing member CM may include a jig or a robot arm tohold the mask assembly MSA.

The fixing member CM may include a body portion BD, and magneticsubstances MM coupled with (e.g., connected to or attached to) the bodyportion BD. The body portion BD may include a plate as a basic structureto fix the mask assembly MSA, but is not particularly limited thereto.The magnetic substances MM may be disposed inside or outside of the bodyportion BD. The magnetic substances MM may fix the mask assembly MSAusing a magnetic force.

The deposition source DS may evaporate a deposition material (e.g., suchas a light emitting material), and may spray the evaporated depositionmaterial as a vapor. The sprayed deposition material may be deposited ona work substrate WS in a suitable pattern (e.g., a predeterminedpattern) after passing through the mask assembly MSA.

The mask assembly MSA may be disposed inside the deposition chamber CB,above the deposition source DS, and may support the work substrate WS.The work substrate WS may include a glass substrate or a plasticsubstrate. The work substrate WS may include a polymer layer disposed ona base substrate.

The mask assembly MSA may include a frame FM, a plurality of sticks ST,and a plurality of masks MSK. In the present embodiment, the maskassembly MSA includes one type of sticks ST extending in the samedirection as each other, but is not limited thereto. According to anembodiment, the mask assembly MSA may further include different kinds ofsticks extending in different directions from one another.

The frame FM may be provided with a first opening OP_F definedtherethrough. The frame FM may have a quadrangular shape in a plane(e.g., in a plan view). The frame FM may include a metal material. As anexample, the frame FM may include nickel (Ni), nickel-cobalt alloy, ornickel-iron alloy. The frame FM may include four portions. The frame FMmay include a first extension portion FM-1 and a second extensionportion FM-2, which face each other in the first directional axis DR1.The frame FM may include a third extension portion FM-3 and a fourthextension portion FM-4, which face each other in the second directionalaxis DR2, and connect the first extension portion FM-1 and the secondextension portion FM-2 to each other. From among the first to fourthextension portions FM-1 to FM-4, corresponding extension portions may becoupled with (e.g., connected to or attached to) each other by welding,or may be provided integrally with each other.

The sticks ST may include first, second, and third sticks ST1, ST2, andST3. The first, second, and third sticks ST1, ST2, and ST3 may becoupled with (e.g., connected to or attached to) the frame FM, and mayoverlap with the first opening OP_F. The first, second, and third sticksST1, ST2, and ST3 may be coupled with (e.g., connected to or attachedto) coupling grooves defined in each of the first extension portion FM-1and the second extension portion FM-2. While FIG. 5 shows three sticksST1, ST2, and ST3 connected to the frame FM, the number of the sticks STare not limited thereto or thereby, and the sticks ST may be providedintegrally with the frame FM.

The masks MSK may be disposed on the frame FM and the sticks ST. Themasks MSK may extend in the second directional axis DR2, and may bearranged along the first directional axis DR1. The masks MSK may includeinvar as their material having a thermal expansion coefficient smallerthan that of the frame FM. The masks MSK may include, for example,nickel (Ni), nickel-cobalt alloy, or nickel-iron alloy.

Each of the masks MSK may be provided with a plurality of openings OP-M(hereinafter, referred to as mask openings) defined (e.g., penetrating)therethrough. Each of the masks MSK may include an opening area A-OP inwhich the mask openings OP-M are defined, and a non-opening area A-NOPdefined adjacent to the opening area A-OP. In the present embodiment,the opening area A-OP may be provided in a plurality, and the openingareas A-OP may be defined along the second directional axis DR2. Themask openings OP-M may be arranged at a suitable rule (e.g., apredetermined rule), or may be arranged uniformly or substantiallyuniformly within the opening area A-OP. The light emitting layer EL mayhave a shape corresponding to a shape of the mask openings OP-M whenviewed in a plane (e.g., in a plan view).

The masks MSK may be coupled with (e.g., connected to or attached to)the frame FM by a welding process. In the manufacturing process of themask assembly MSA, the masks MSK may be welded to the frame FM, whileeach of the masks MSK is being tensioned in the second directional axisDR2. The mask assembly MSA may include a plurality of divided masks MSK.The sagging of the divided masks MSK may occur less compared to that ofone large mask corresponding to frame FM.

In this case, a tensile force may be applied to each of the masks MSK inthe second directional axis DR2. The masks MSK may be deformed due tostress caused by the tensile force. According to one or more embodimentsof the present disclosure, as the shape and the arrangement of the maskopenings OP-M defined in each of the masks MSK are designed in abalanced way, the tensile force may be prevented or substantiallyprevented from being generated locally or asymmetrically in a part ofthe masks MSK. Accordingly, the masks MSK may be prevented orsubstantially prevented from being deformed or damaged due to thestress, and the reliability of the mask assembly MSA may be improved.This will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 6A is a plan view of an area of a first work substrate WS1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6B is across-sectional view of an area in which the mask is coupled with thefirst work substrate WS1. FIG. 6C is a plan view of an area of a secondwork substrate WS2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 6D is an enlarged plan view of a unit pixel group UT.

The first work substrate WS1 may indicate a substrate at (e.g., in oron) which the pixel definition layer PDL and the first functional layerHFL of the display panel DP shown in FIG. 3B are formed, and for theconvenience of illustration, the first functional layer HFL is notillustrated on the first work substrate WS1.

The second work substrate WS2 may indicate a substrate obtained byforming light emitting patterns EP_R, EP_G, and EP_B at (e.g., in or on)the first work substrate WS1. The second work substrate WS2 maycorrespond to a substrate that includes the components under (e.g.,underneath) the light emitting layer EL and the light emitting layer ELof the display panel DP shown in FIG. 3B, and the light emittingpatterns EP_R, EP_G, and EP_B may correspond to the light emitting layerEL.

Hereinafter, a first direction D1, a second direction D2, and a thirddirection D3 may be directions crossing each other. For example, thefirst to third directions D1, D2, and D3 are described as beingperpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to each other. In theexpressions “viewed in a plane” and “in a plane” as used hereinafter,the plane may be parallel to or substantially parallel to the firstdirection D1 and the second direction D2, and the expression “athickness direction” as used hereinafter may correspond to the thirddirection D3. A first diagonal direction S1 may extend between the firstdirection D1 and the second direction D2. The first diagonal directionS1 may be inclined with respect to each of the first direction D1 andthe second direction D2. A second diagonal direction S2 may extendbetween the second direction D2 and an opposing direction to the firstdirection D1. For example, the first direction D1, the first diagonaldirection S1, the second direction D2, and the second diagonal directionS2 may be parallel to or substantially parallel to an upper surface ofthe work substrates WS1 and WS2 shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, and a thicknessof each of the work substrates WS1 and WS2 may be measured along thethird direction D3. However, the first work substrate WS1 and the secondwork substrate WS2 shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C are merely illustrative of anexample. Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present disclosurewill be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6D.

FIG. 6A shows the light emitting openings PDL-OP, and FIG. 6C shows thelight emitting layer EL formed in each of the light emitting openingsPDL-OP. The light emitting openings PDL-OP may include a plurality offirst openings OP_G, a plurality of second openings OP_R, and aplurality of third openings OP_B. Each of the first openings OP_G, thesecond openings OP_R, and the third openings OP_B may have a left-rightasymmetric shape.

The light emitting layer EL may include a plurality of first color lightemitting patterns EP_G, a plurality of second color light emittingpatterns EP_R, and a plurality of third color light emitting patternsEP_B. The first color light emitting patterns EP_G may be disposed tocorrespond to the first openings OP_G, respectively, and may correspondto a light emitting portion for emitting a first color. The second colorlight emitting patterns EP_R may be disposed to correspond to the secondopenings OP_R, respectively, and may correspond to a light emittingportion for emitting a second color. The third color light emittingpatterns EP_B may be disposed to correspond to the third openings OP_B,respectively, and may correspond to a light emitting portion foremitting a third color.

The first, second, and third colors may be different from each other. Asan example, the first, second, and third colors may correspond to green,red, and blue colors, respectively, but the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. According to an embodiment, the first, second, andthird colors may be selected from a variety of suitable colors, as longas they are different from each other, and are not particularly limited.

For convenience of illustration, FIG. 6B further shows three firstelectrodes AE-G, AE-R, and AE-B corresponding to a first light emittingopening OP_G, a second light emitting opening OP_R, and a third lightemitting opening OP_B. In addition, FIG. 6B further shows the fixingmember CM described above, and a first mask MSK1. The first mask MSK1may be a mask used to form the first color light emitting patterns EP_G.Accordingly, mask openings OP-MG defined through (e.g., penetrating) thefirst mask MSK1 may correspond to the first light emitting openingsOP_G, respectively.

The first mask opening OP-MG of the first mask MSK1 may have a sizegreater than that of the first light emitting opening OP_G. In a statewhere the mask assembly MSA is disposed inside the deposition chamberCB, and the first mask MSK1 is aligned with the work substrate WS1, thefirst light emitting opening OP_G may be disposed inside (e.g., within)the first mask opening OP-MG of the first mask MSK1. Similarly, in acase where a second mask MSK2 (e.g., refer to FIG. 8A) described in moredetail below is coupled with (e.g., connected to or attached to) thedeposition chamber CB, the second light emitting opening OP_R may bedisposed inside (e.g., within) a second mask opening OP-MR of the secondmask MSK2. Similarly, in a case where a third mask MSK3 (e.g., refer toFIG. 9A) described in more detail below is coupled with (e.g., connectedto or attached to) the deposition chamber CB, the third light emittingopening OP_B may be disposed inside (e.g., within) a third mask openingOP-MB of the third mask MSK3.

Referring to FIGS. 6A to 6C, the first color light emitting patternsEP_G may be formed in the first light emitting openings OP_G using thefirst mask MSK1. Then, the second color light emitting patterns EP_R andthe third color light emitting patterns EP_B may be formed in the secondlight emitting openings OP_R and the third light emitting openings OP_B,respectively, using corresponding masks. This will be described in moredetail below.

The mask MSK1 may be supported by a spacer SPC. Because the spacer SPCprotrudes from an upper surface of the pixel definition layer PDL, thespacer SPC may prevent or substantially prevent the mask MSK1 fromcolliding with the work substrate WS1, and may prevent or substantiallyprevent the work substrate WS1 from being damaged due to the mask MSK1.

Referring to FIG. 6D, the unit pixel group UT may be defined to includeeight color light emitting portions. The unit pixel group UT may beprovided in a plurality, and the unit pixel groups UT may be regularlyarranged in the display panel DP along the first direction D1 and thesecond direction D2. The unit pixel group UT according to one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure may be arbitrarily illustrated(e.g., arbitrarily set), and the number of color light emitting portionsconstituting the unit pixel group UT may be variously modified as neededor desired.

The unit pixel group UT may include four first color light emittingpatterns EP_G1, EP_G2, EP_G3, and EP_G4 (e.g., each having the firstcolor), two second color light emitting patterns EP_R1 and EP_R2 (e.g.,each having the second color), and two third color light emittingpatterns EP_B1 and EP_B2 (e.g., each having the third color). The first,second, and third colors may be different from each other. In thepresent embodiment, two first color light emitting patterns EP_G1 andEP_G2, one second color light emitting pattern EP_R1, and one thirdcolor light emitting pattern EP_B1 may form a first row of the unitpixel group UT. Two first color light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4,one second color light emitting pattern EP_R2, and one third color lightemitting pattern EP_B2 may form a second row of the unit pixel group UT.

The first color light emitting patterns EP_G1, EP_G2, EP_G3, and EP_G4may include first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2,and first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4. Thefirst color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2 may have thesame or substantially the same shape as each other, and may be arrangedalong the first direction D1. As used in the present embodiment, theexpression “a component has the same shape as another component” meansthat the components have the same or substantially the same shape aseach other, but does not mean that the positions of the components arethe same as each other. In other words, even though the components aredisposed at different positions in the plane defined by the firstdirection D1 and the second direction D2, the components have the sameor substantially the same shape as each other when the shape of thecomponents are the same or substantially the same as each other aftermoving the components to overlap with each other.

Each of the first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2may have a triangular shape, with a base extending in the firstdirection D1, and a height extending in the second direction D2.Vertices of each of the first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1and EP_G2 may have a rounded shape. In the present embodiment, each ofthe first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2 may have aright or substantially a right triangular shape, and portionsrespectively corresponding to the vertices may have a suitable curvature(e.g., a predetermined curvature).

The first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4 may bearranged in a row different from a row in which the first color firstlight emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2 are arranged. The first colorsecond light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4 may be disposed to bespaced apart from the first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1and EP_G2, respectively, in the second direction D2. The first colorsecond light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4 may have the same orsubstantially the same shape as each other, and may be disposed to bespaced apart from each other in the first direction D1.

Each of the first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4may have a triangular shape, with a base extending in the firstdirection D1, and a height extending in the second direction D2.Vertices of each of the first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3and EP_G4 may have a rounded shape. In the present embodiment, each ofthe first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4 may havea right or substantially a right triangular shape, and portionsrespectively corresponding to the vertices may have a suitable curvature(e.g., a predetermined curvature).

Each of the first color light emitting patterns EP_G1, EP_G2, EP_G3, andEP_G4 may have the triangular shape, with the base extending in thefirst direction D1, the height extending in the second direction D2, anda hypotenuse connecting the base and the height with each other.Vertices of each of the first color light emitting patterns EP_G1,EP_G2, EP_G3, and EP_G4 may have a rounded shape. In the presentembodiment, the first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3 andEP_G4 may have a shape different from that of the first color firstlight emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2. In the present embodiment, theexpression “a component has a shape different from a shape of anothercomponent” means that the components have different shapes from eachother, but does not mean that the components have the same shape whilebeing disposed in different positions in the plane.

As an example, the first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 andEP_G2 may have hypotenuses extending in a direction different from thatof those of the first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3 andEP_G4. Each of the hypotenuses of the first color first light emittingpatterns EP_G1 and EP_G2 may extend in the second diagonal direction S2,and each of the hypotenuses of the first color second light emittingpatterns EP_G3 and EP_G4 may extend in the first diagonal direction S1.

In more detail, each of the first color second light emitting patternsEP_G3 and EP_G4 may have the same or substantially the same shape as theshape obtained when the shape of each of the first color first lightemitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2 is flipped with respect to asymmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel to the seconddirection D2. In other words, the shapes obtained when the first colorfirst light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2 are flipped with respectto the symmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel to thesecond direction D2 may be the same or substantially the same as theshapes of the first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3 andEP_G4, respectively. In more detail, the first color second lightemitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4 may be the same or substantially thesame as the first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2that are flipped with respect to the symmetrical axis crossing betweenthe first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2 andparallel to or substantially parallel to the second direction D2, andthen moved to (e.g., shifted in) a direction opposite to the seconddirection D2.

In addition, because each of the first color light emitting patternsEP_G1, EP_G2, EP_G3, and EP_G4 has the right or substantially the righttriangular shape, each of the first color second light emitting patternsEP_G3 and EP_G4 may have the same or substantially the same shape as theshape obtained by rotating each of the first color first light emittingpatterns EP_G1 and EP_G2 by about 90 degrees in a counterclockwisedirection. In more detail, the first color second light emittingpatterns EP_G3 and EP_G4 may be the same or substantially the same asthe first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2 that arerotated by about 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction, and thenmoved (e.g., shifted) on the plane defined by the first direction D1 andthe second direction D2.

The second color light emitting patterns EP_R1 and EP_R2 may include asecond color first light emitting pattern EP_R1 and a second colorsecond light emitting pattern EP_R2, which are disposed in differentrows from each other. The second color first light emitting patternEP_R1 may be disposed in the first row, and may be disposed between thefirst color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2. The secondcolor second light emitting pattern EP_R2 may be disposed in the secondrow, and may be disposed between the first color second light emittingpatterns EP_G3 and EP_G4.

Each of the second color first light emitting pattern EP_R1 and thesecond color second light emitting pattern EP_R2 may have a triangularshape, and vertices of each of the second color first light emittingpattern EP_R1 and the second color second light emitting pattern EP_R2may have a rounded shape. Each of the second color first light emittingpattern EP_R1 and the second color second light emitting pattern EP_R2may have the right triangular shape, with a base extending in the firstdirection D1, a height extending in the second direction D2, and ahypotenuse connecting the base and the height to each other.

The second color first light emitting pattern EP_R1 and the second colorsecond light emitting pattern EP_R2 may have different shapes from eachother. As an example, the second color first light emitting patternEP_R1 and the second color second light emitting pattern EP_R2 mayinclude hypotenuses extending in different directions from each other.The hypotenuse of the second color first light emitting pattern EP_R1may extend in the second diagonal direction S2, and the hypotenuse ofthe second color second light emitting pattern EP_R2 may extend in thefirst diagonal direction S1.

The second color first light emitting pattern EP_R1 may include sidesfacing the first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2,respectively. The sides of the second color first light emitting patternEP_R1, which face the first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1and EP_G2, respectively, may form an acute angle. In the presentembodiment, the hypotenuse of the second color first light emittingpattern EP_R1 may face the color light emitting pattern EP_G1 disposedat a left side of the first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1and EP_G2, and another side of the sides of the second color first lightemitting pattern EP_R1 may face the color light emitting pattern EP_G2disposed at a right side of the first color first light emittingpatterns EP_G1 and EP_G2.

The second color second light emitting pattern EP_R2 may include sidesfacing the first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4,respectively. The sides of the second color second light emittingpattern EP_R2, which face the first color second light emitting patternsEP_G3 and EP_G4, respectively, may form an acute angle. In the presentembodiment, the hypotenuse of the second color second light emittingpattern EP_R2 may face a right color light emitting pattern EP_G4 of thefirst color second light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4, and anotherside of the sides of the second color second light emitting patternEP_R2 may face a left color light emitting pattern EP_G3 of the firstcolor second light emitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4.

The second color first light emitting pattern EP_R1 may have the same orsubstantially the same shape as the shape obtained when the second colorsecond light emitting pattern EP_R2 is flipped with respect to asymmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel to the seconddirection D2. In more detail, the second color second light emittingpattern EP_R2 may be the same or substantially the same as the secondcolor first light emitting pattern EP_R1 flipped horizontally, and thenmoved (e.g., shifted) in the first direction D1. In addition, the secondcolor first light emitting pattern EP_R1 may have the same orsubstantially the same shape as the shape obtained by rotating thesecond color second light emitting pattern EP_R2 in a clockwisedirection by about 90 degrees. In more detail, the second color secondlight emitting pattern EP_R2 may have the same or substantially the sameshape as the shape obtained by rotating the second color first lightemitting pattern EP_R1 by about 90 degrees in a counterclockwisedirection, and then moving (e.g., shifting) the second color first lightemitting pattern EP_R1 on the plane defined by the first direction D1and the second direction D2.

The third color light emitting patterns EP_B1 and EP_B2 may include athird color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 and a third color secondlight emitting pattern EP_B2, which are disposed in different rows fromeach other. The third color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 may bedisposed in the first row, and may be disposed at a right side of thefirst color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 and EP_G2. The thirdcolor second light emitting pattern EP_B2 may be disposed in the secondrow, and may be disposed at a left side of the first color second lightemitting patterns EP_G3 and EP_G4. The third color first light emittingpattern EP_B1 and the third color second light emitting pattern EP_B2may be staggered in the second direction D2. Accordingly, the thirdcolor first light emitting pattern EP_B1 and the third color secondlight emitting pattern EP_B2 may not overlap with each other when viewedin the second direction D2.

Each of the third color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 and the thirdcolor second light emitting pattern EP_B2 may have a triangular shape,and vertices of each of the third color first light emitting patternEP_B1 and the third color second light emitting pattern EP_B2 may have arounded shape. Each of the third color first light emitting patternEP_B1 and the third color second light emitting pattern EP_B2 may have aright or substantially a right triangular shape, with a base extendingin the first direction D1, a height extending in the second directionD2, and a hypotenuse connecting the base and the height to each other.

The third color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 and the third colorsecond light emitting pattern EP_B2 may have different shapes from eachother. As an example, the third color first light emitting pattern EP_B1and the third color second light emitting pattern EP_B2 may includehypotenuses extending in different directions from each other. Thehypotenuse of the third color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 mayextend in the second diagonal direction S2, and the hypotenuse of thethird color second light emitting pattern EP_B2 may extend in the firstdiagonal direction S1.

The third color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 may have the same orsubstantially the same shape as the shape obtained when the third colorsecond light emitting pattern EP_B2 is flipped with respect to thesymmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel to the seconddirection D2. In more detail, the third color second light emittingpattern EP_B2 may be the same or substantially the same as the thirdcolor first light emitting pattern EP_B1 flipped horizontally, and thenmoved (e.g., shifted) on the plane defined by the first direction D1 andthe second direction D2. In addition, the third color first lightemitting pattern EP_B1 may have the same or substantially the same shapeas the shape obtained by rotating the third color second light emittingpattern EP_B2 by about 90 degrees in a clockwise direction. In moredetail, the third color second light emitting pattern EP_B2 may have thesame or substantially the same shape as the shape obtained by rotatingthe third color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 by about 90 degreesin a counterclockwise direction, and then moving (e.g., shifting) thethird color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 on the plane

The second color light emitting patterns EP_R1 and EP_R2 may includehypotenuses facing the first color light emitting patterns EP_G1 andEP_G4, respectively, and may be linearly symmetrical with each other,and the third color light emitting patterns EP_B1 and EP_B2 may includehypotenuses facing the first color light emitting patterns EP_G2 andEP_G3, respectively, and may be linearly symmetrical with each other. Inother words, the second color light emitting patterns EP_R1 and EP_R2and the third color light emitting patterns EP_B1 and EP_B2 may includethe hypotenuses facing the first color light emitting patterns EP_G1,EP_G2, EP_G3, and EP_G4.

As described above, when each of the color light emitting patterns hasthe right triangular shape, an interior angle of each of the color lightemitting patterns, which is defined by the hypotenuses thereof, may bean acute angle. When assuming that two color light emitting patternswhose hypotenuses face each other are presented in one quadrangulararea, the two color light emitting patterns may be presented in twotriangular areas, respectively, divided by a diagonal line crossing thequadrangular area. The two color light emitting patterns facing eachother in one quadrangular area may have a symmetric or substantiallysymmetric relationship with each other, and may have the same orsubstantially the same area (e.g., size) as each other.

As an example, the second color first light emitting pattern EP_R1 mayinclude the hypotenuse facing one of the first color first lightemitting pattern EP_G1 of the first color first light emitting patternsEP_G1 and EP_G2, and may be linearly symmetrical with the first colorfirst light emitting pattern EP_G1 with respect to the direction inwhich the hypotenuse extends (e.g., with respect to the symmetrical axisparallel to or substantially parallel to the second diagonal directionS2). The second color second light emitting pattern EP_R2 may includethe hypotenuse facing one of the first color second light emittingpattern EP_G4 of the first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3and EP_G4, and may be linearly symmetrical with the first color secondlight emitting pattern EP_G4 with respect to the direction in which thehypotenuse extends (e.g., with respect to the symmetrical axis parallelto or substantially parallel to the first diagonal direction S1). Thesecond color first light emitting pattern EP_R1 and the first colorfirst light emitting pattern EP_G1 may be presented in two triangularareas, respectively, divided by the hypotenuse.

The third color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 may include thehypotenuse facing the other of the first color first light emittingpattern EP_G2 of the first color first light emitting patterns EP_G1 andEP_G2, and may be linearly symmetrical with the first color first lightemitting pattern EP_G2 with respect to the direction in which thehypotenuse extends (e.g., with respect to the symmetrical axis parallelto or substantially parallel to) the second diagonal direction S2. Thethird color second light emitting pattern EP_B2 may include thehypotenuse facing the other of the first color second light emittingpattern EP_G3 of the first color second light emitting patterns EP_G3and EP_G4, and may be linearly symmetrical with the first color secondlight emitting pattern EP_G3 with respect to the direction in which thehypotenuse extends (e.g., with respect to the symmetrical axis parallelto or substantially parallel to the first diagonal direction S1). Thethird color first light emitting pattern EP_B1 and the first color firstlight emitting pattern EP_G2 may be presented in two triangular areas,respectively, divided by the hypotenuse.

The work substrate WS1 may include the light emitting openings PDL-OP,each having the right triangular shape. In addition, the work substrateWS2 may include light emitting patterns EP having the triangular shape,and corresponding to the light emitting openings PDL-OP, respectively.The first color light emitting patterns EP_G1, EP_G2, EP_G3, and EP_G4may be arranged in two rows, and the first color light emitting patternsEP_G1, EP_G2, EP_G3, and EP_G4 arranged in different rows from eachother may have different shapes from each other, for example, such asthe shapes obtained by rotating or the linearly symmetrical shapes. Thesecond color light emitting patterns EP_R1 and EP_R2 may be arranged intwo rows, and may have different shapes from each other, for example,such as the shapes obtained by rotating or the linearly symmetricalshapes. The third color light emitting patterns EP_B1 and EP_B2 may bearranged in two rows, and may have different shapes from each other, forexample, such as the shapes obtained by rotating or the linearlysymmetrical shapes.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, as thelight emitting patterns forming one unit pixel group UT are provided insuitable shapes that are symmetrical or substantially symmetrical toeach other, the openings of the mask MSK may be uniformly orsubstantially uniformly arranged over the mask MSK. Therefore, when themask MSK is tensioned, the stress may be prevented or substantiallyprevented from being locally generated, and thus, the damage or thedeformation of the mask MSK may be prevented or substantially prevented.This will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a portion of a mask MSK1 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7B is a plan view of an areaof a work substrate WS1-G. FIG. 8A is a plan view of a portion of a maskMSK2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8B is aplan view of an area of a work substrate WS1-R. FIG. 9A is a plan viewof a portion of a mask MSK3 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 9B is a plan view of an area of a work substrate WS2.

FIGS. 7A, 8A, and 9A show the masks MSK1, MSK2, and MSK3, respectively,to form color light emitting patterns that are different from eachother. FIGS. 7B, 8B, 9B show the substrates WS1-G, WS1-R, and WS2,respectively, including the light emitting patterns that aresequentially formed using the masks MSK1, MSK2, and MSK3. In addition,FIGS. 7A to 9B show an area corresponding to that of FIG. 6A.Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 7A to 9B. In FIGS. 7Ato 9B, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same orsubstantially the same elements as those described above with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 6D, and thus, redundant description thereof may not berepeated.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first color light emitting patternsEP_G may be formed using the first mask MSK1. The first work substrateWS1 (e.g., refer to FIG. 6A) may be formed as a first display panelWS1-G using the first mask MSK1. The first display panel WS1-G may beobtained by forming the first color light emitting patterns EP_G at(e.g., in or on) the first work substrate WS1.

The first mask openings OP-MG may be defined through the first maskMSK1. The first color light emitting patterns EP_G may have a shapecorresponding to the first mask openings OP-MG, and thus, thearrangement and the shape of the first mask openings OP-MG maycorrespond to the arrangement and the shape of the first color lightemitting patterns EP_G.

In more detail, each of the first mask openings OP-MG may have a righttriangular shape, with a base extending in the first direction D1, aheight extending in the second direction D2, and a hypotenuse connectingthe base and the height to each other. Vertices of each of the firstmask openings OP-MG may have a rounded shape. Each of edges RE1 a, RE1b, and RE1 c corresponding to the vertices of each of the first maskopenings OP-MG may have a radius of curvature equal to or greater thanabout 8 μm. Accordingly, the light emitting pattern may be stablydeposited in areas corresponding to the edges RE1 a, RE1 b, and RE1 c.

In addition, a minimum width between the first mask openings OP-MG maybe equal to or greater than about 15 μm. As an example, a minimum widthW1 between one edge of the first mask opening OP-MG and another firstmask opening OP-MG adjacent to the one edge in the first direction D1may be equal to or greater than about 15 μm. In addition, a minimumwidth W2 between the one edge of the first mask opening OP-MG andanother first mask opening OP-MG adjacent to the one edge in the seconddirection D2 may be equal to or greater than about 15 μm. The minimumwidth is not limited to a value measured in the first direction D1 orthe second direction D2, as long as the minimum width indicates aminimum distance. According to one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure, as the minimum width between the first mask openings OP-MGis secured, processability and reliability of the first mask MSK1 may beimproved, and the first mask MSK1 may be stably manufactured.

Among the first mask openings OP-MG, four first mask openings OP_MG1,OP_MG2, OP_MG3, and OP_MG4 forming the unit pixel group UT maycorrespond to four first color light emitting patterns EP_G1, EP_G2,EP_G3, and EP_G4, respectively, to form a corresponding unit pixel groupUT from among the first color light emitting patterns EP_G.

In more detail, the first mask openings OP_MG1, OP_MG2, OP_MG3, andOP_MG4 may include first-first mask openings OP_MG1 and OP_MG2 that arespaced apart from each other in the first direction D1, and having thesame or substantially the same shape as each other, and first-secondmask openings OP_MG3 and OP_MG4 that are spaced apart from each other inthe first direction D1, and having the same or substantially the sameshape as each other. The first-first mask openings OP_MG1 and OP_MG2 andthe first-second mask openings OP_MG3 and OP_MG4 may be spaced apartfrom each other in the second direction D2, and may be arranged indifferent rows from one another.

The first-first mask openings OP_MG1 and OP_MG2 may have a shapedifferent from that of the first-second mask openings OP_MG3 and OP_MG4.In more detail, each of the first-second mask openings OP_MG3 and OP_MG4may have the same or substantially the same shape as a shape obtainedwhen each of the first-first mask openings OP_MG1 and OP_MG2 is flippedwith respect to a symmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallelto the second direction D2. In other words, the shapes obtained when thefirst-first mask openings OP_MG1 and OP_MG2 are flipped with respect tothe symmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel to the seconddirection D2 may be the same or substantially the same as the shapes ofthe first-second mask openings OP_MG3 and OP_MG4, respectively.

In addition, the shapes of the first-second mask openings OP_MG3 andOP_MG4 may correspond to the shapes obtained when the first-first maskopenings OP_MG1 and OP_MG2 are rotated by about 90 degrees in acounterclockwise direction. In other words, the first-second maskopenings OP_MG3 and OP_MG4 may have the same or substantially the sameshapes as the shapes obtained when the first-first mask openings OP_MG1and OP_MG2 are rotated by about 90 degrees in the counterclockwisedirection, and then moved (e.g., shifted) on the plane.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the second color light emitting patternsEP_R may be formed using the second mask MSK2. The first display panelWS1-G may be formed as a second display panel WS1-R using the secondmask MSK2. The second display panel WS1-R may be obtained by forming thefirst color light emitting patterns EP_G and the second color lightemitting patterns EP_R on the first work substrate WS1.

The second mask MSK2 may be provided with the second mask openings OP-MRdefined (e.g., penetrating) therethrough. The second color lightemitting patterns EP_R may have a shape corresponding to that of thesecond mask openings OP-MR, and thus, the arrangement and the shape ofthe second mask openings OP-MR may correspond to the arrangement and theshape of the second color light emitting patterns EP_R.

In more detail, each of the second mask openings OP-MR may have a righttriangular shape, with a base extending in the first direction D1, aheight extending in the second direction D2, and a hypotenuse connectingthe base and the height to each other. Vertices of each of the secondmask openings OP-MR may have a rounded shape. Each of edges RE2 a, RE2b, and RE2 c corresponding to the vertices of each of the second maskopenings OP-MR may have a radius of curvature equal to or greater thanabout 8 μm. Accordingly, the light emitting pattern may be stablydeposited in areas corresponding to the edges RE2 a, RE2 b, and RE2 c.

A minimum width between the mask openings OP-MR may be equal to orgreater than about 15 μm. In the present embodiment, as an example, aminimum width between two second mask openings OP-MR closest to eachother may be equal to or greater than about 15 μm. The minimum width isnot limited to a value measured in the first direction D1 or the seconddirection D2, as long as the minimum width indicates a minimum distance.According to an embodiment, as the minimum width between the second maskopenings OP-MR is secured, processability and reliability of the secondmask MSK2 may be improved, and the second mask MSK2 may be stablymanufactured.

Among the second mask openings OP-MR, two second mask openings OP-MR1and OP-MR2 forming the unit pixel group UT may correspond to two secondcolor light emitting patterns EP_R1 and EP_R2, respectively, to form acorresponding unit pixel group UT from among the second color lightemitting patterns EP_R.

In more detail, the second mask openings OP-MR1 and OP-MR2 may include asecond-first mask opening OP-MR1 and a second-second mask openingOP-MR2, which are arranged in different rows from each other and havedifferent shapes from each other. The second-first mask opening OP-MR1and the second-second mask opening OP-MR2 may include hypotenusesextending in different directions from each other. The hypotenuse of thesecond-first mask opening OP-MR1 may extend in the second diagonaldirection S2, and the hypotenuse of the second-second mask openingOP-MR2 may extend in the first diagonal direction S1.

The second-first mask opening OP-MR1 may have the same or substantiallythe same shape as a shape obtained when the second-second mask openingOP-MR2 is flipped with respect to a symmetrical axis parallel to orsubstantially parallel to the second direction D2. In addition, thesecond-second mask opening OP-MR2 may have the shape obtained when thesecond-first mask opening OP-MR1 is rotated by about 90 degrees in thecounterclockwise direction.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the third color light emitting patternsEP_B may be formed using the third mask MSK3. The second display panelWS1-R may be formed as the second work substrate WS2 using the thirdmask MSK3.

A plurality of third mask openings OP-MB may be defined (e.g., maypenetrate) through the third mask MSK3. The third color light emittingpatterns EP_B may have a shape corresponding to a shape of the thirdmask openings OP-MB, and thus, the arrangement and the shape of thethird mask openings OP-MB may correspond to the arrangement and theshape of the third color light emitting patterns EP_B.

In more detail, each of the third mask openings OP-MB may have a righttriangular shape, with a base extending in the first direction D1, aheight extending in the second direction D2, and a hypotenuse connectingthe base and the height to each other. Vertices of each of the thirdmask openings OP-MB may have a rounded shape. Each of edges RE3 a, RE3b, and RE3 c respectively corresponding to the vertices of each of thethird mask openings OP-MB may have a radius of curvature equal to orgreater than about 8 μm. Accordingly, the light emitting pattern may bestably deposited in areas corresponding to the edges RE3 a, RE3 b, andRE3 c.

A minimum width between the third mask openings OP-MB may be equal to orgreater than about 15 μm. As an example, the minimum width between twothird mask openings OP-MB closest to each other may be equal to orgreater than about 15 μm. The minimum width is not limited to a valuemeasured in the first direction D1 or the second direction D2, as longas the minimum width indicates a minimum distance. According to thepresent embodiment, as the minimum width between the third mask openingsOP-MB is secured, processability and reliability of the third mask MSK3may be improved, and the third mask MSK3 may be stably manufactured.

Among the third mask openings OP-MB, two third mask openings OP-MB1 andOP-MB2 forming a unit pixel group UT may correspond to two third colorlight emitting patterns EP_B1 and EP_B2, respectively, to form acorresponding unit pixel group UT among the third color light emittingpatterns EP_B.

In more detail, the third mask openings OP-MB1, OP-MB2 may include athird-first mask opening OP-MB1 and a third-second mask opening OP-MB2,which are disposed in different rows from each other and have differentshapes from each other. The third-first mask opening OP-MB1 and thethird-second mask opening OP-MB2 may include hypotenuses extending indifferent directions from each other. The hypotenuse of the third-firstmask opening OP-MB1 may extend in the second diagonal direction S2, andthe hypotenuse of the third-second mask opening OP-MB2 may extend in thefirst diagonal direction S1.

The third-first mask opening OP-MB1 may have the same or substantiallythe same shape as a shape obtained when the third-second mask openingOP-MB2 is flipped with respect to a symmetrical axis parallel to orsubstantially parallel to the second direction D2. In more detail, thethird-second mask opening OP-MB2 may have the same or substantially thesame shape as the shape obtained when the third-first mask openingOP-MB1 is flipped horizontally, and then moved (e.g., shifted) in adirection opposite to the second direction D2. In addition, thethird-second mask opening OP-MB2 may have the same or substantially thesame shape as the shape obtained when the third-first mask openingOP-MB1 is rotated by about 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction.

While in the present embodiment, the second work substrate WS2 in whichthe color light emitting patterns are formed in the order of the firstcolor light emitting pattern EP_G, the second color light emittingpattern EP_R, and the third color light emitting pattern EP_B isillustrated, the present disclosure is not limited thereto or thereby.According to an embodiment, the formation order of the first color lightemitting pattern EP_G, the second color light emitting pattern EP_R, andthe third color light emitting pattern EP_B may be variously modified,and is not particularly limited. In addition, according to the presentembodiment, the first color light emitting pattern EP_G, the secondcolor light emitting pattern EP_R, and the third color light emittingpattern EP_B are shown as not overlapping with each other, but thefirst, second, and third color light emitting patterns EP_G, EP_R, andEP_B may partially overlap with each other according to a margin of themask openings OP-MG, OP-MR, and OP-MB. When the light emitting openingsPDL-OP are designed to be spaced apart from each other, the first colorlight emitting pattern EP_G, the second color light emitting patternEP_R, and the third color light emitting pattern EP_B may not overlapwith each other, or may partially overlap with each other in areasbetween the light emitting openings PDL-OP.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, eventhough the mask openings have an asymmetric shape in the direction inwhich the tensile force is applied, the tensile force applied to themask may be uniformly or substantially uniformly distributed over theentire mask by designing the arrangement of the mask openings to besymmetrical or substantially symmetrical with each other. Accordingly,as the tensile force generated in the mask is uniformly or substantiallyuniformly distributed over the entire mask, a local stress caused by thetensile force may be reduced, and deformation of and damage to the maskmay be reduced. As a result, the reliability of the mask and themanufacturing process of the display panel using the mask may beimproved.

FIG. 10A is a plan view of an area of a display panel DP-C according toa comparative example. FIGS. 10B and 10C are plan views of masks MSK1-Cand MSK2-C according to comparative examples. FIG. 11A is a plan view ofan area of a display panel DP-E according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIGS. 11B and 11C are plan views of masks MSK1 andMSK2 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 10A and 11A show the display panel DP-C of the comparative exampleand the display panel DP-E according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, respectively, in an area corresponding to that of FIG. 6C.FIGS. 10B, 10C, 11B, and 11C show the masks MSK1-C, MSK2-C, MSK1, andMSK2, respectively, to which the tensile force is applied. Hereinafter,one or more embodiments of the present disclosure will be described inmore detail with reference to FIGS. 10A to 11C. In FIGS. 10A to 11C, thesame reference numerals are used to denote the same or substantially thesame elements as those described above with reference to FIGS. 1A to 9B,and thus, redundant description thereof may not be repeated.

Referring to FIGS. 10A to 10C, among eight light emitting patternsforming a unit pixel group UT-C of the display panel DP-C of thecomparative example, the light emitting patterns having the same coloras each other may have the same shape as each other. Four first colorlight emitting patterns EP_GC may have the same shape as each other, andtwo second color light emitting patterns EP_RC may have the same shapeas each other. Similarly, two third color light emitting patterns EP_BCmay have the same shape as each other.

As shown in FIG. 10B, first mask openings OP_MGC defined through thefirst mask MSK1-C to form the first color light emitting patterns EP_GCmay have the same shape as each other. Each of the first mask openingsOP_MGC may have a triangular shape, with a base extending in the firstdirection D1, a height extending in the second direction D2, and ahypotenuse extending in the second diagonal direction S2. Vertices ofeach of the first mask openings OP_MGC may have a rounded shape.

Because the shape of the first mask openings OP_MGC is not linearlysymmetrical with respect to a symmetrical axis substantially parallel tothe second direction passing through a center of each of the first maskopenings OP_MGC, when a tensile force is applied to the first maskMSK1-C in a direction parallel to the first direction D1, the stressapplied to each of the first mask openings OP_MGC may not be uniform.Accordingly, the non-uniform stress may be locally generated in thefirst mask MSK1-C, and a deformation amount (e.g., a predetermineddeformation amount) ds1 may be generated in the first mask MSK1-C. Thedeformation amount ds1 may correspond to a distortion degree of thefirst mask MSK1-C in the first direction D1.

Similarly, referring to FIG. 10C, second mask openings OP_MRC definedthrough the second mask MSK2-C to form the second color light emittingpatterns EP_RC may have the same shape as each other. Each of the secondmask openings OP_MRC may have a triangular shape, with a base extendingin the first direction D1, a height extending in the second directionD2, and a hypotenuse extending in the second diagonal direction S2.Vertices of each of the second mask openings OP_MRC may have a roundedshape.

Because the shape of the second mask openings OP_MRC is not linearlysymmetrical with respect to a symmetrical axis substantially parallel tothe second direction passing through a center of each of the second maskopenings OP_MRC, when a tensile force is applied to the second maskMSK2-C in a direction parallel to the first direction D1, the stressapplied to each of the second mask openings OP_MRC may not be uniform.Accordingly, the non-uniform stress may be locally generated in thesecond mask MSK2-C, and a deformation amount (e.g., a predetermineddeformation amount) ds2 may be generated in the second mask MSK2-C. Thedeformation amount ds2 may correspond to a distortion degree of thesecond mask MSK2-C in the first direction D1.

The deformation amount ds2 of the second mask MSK2-C may be relativelysmaller than the deformation amount ds1 of the first mask MSK1-C. Thisis because the number of the second mask openings OP_MRC defined in thesecond mask MSK2-C is smaller than the number of the first mask openingsOP_MGC defined in the first mask MSK1-C based on the same area (e.g.,the same sized area). In other words, the tensile force may benon-uniformly applied to the first and second masks MSK1-C and MSK2-Cdue to the asymmetric shape and arrangement of the first and second maskopenings OP_MGC and OP_MRC, and thus, the first and second masks MSK1-Cand MSK2-C may be deformed.

Unlike in the comparative example, as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C, each oflight emitting patterns EP_R, EP_G, and EP_B forming a unit pixel groupUT-E may be symmetrical or substantially symmetrical with one another inthe display panel DP-E, and thus, the deformation caused by the tensileforce applied to the masks MSK1 and MSK2 may be reduced. Referring toFIG. 11B, two first mask openings from among four first mask openingsOP-MG forming a unit pixel group UT1 may have a shape different from ashape of the other two first mask openings from among the four firstmask openings OP-MG.

In more detail, mask openings forming one row and mask openings forminganother row may be symmetrical or substantially symmetrical with eachother. Accordingly, even though the tensile force in one row is biasedin one direction, the tensile force in a next row may be biased in adirection opposite to the one direction of the previous row, and thus,the tensile forces between the two rows may be offset. Accordingly, thetensile force applied to the entire first mask MSK1 may be evenly orsubstantially evenly distributed, so that the deformation of the firstmask MSK1, which may be caused by stress, may be reduced.

Similarly, referring to FIG. 11C, two second mask openings OP-MR forminga unit pixel group UT2 may have different shapes from each other. Thetwo mask openings OP-MR may form different rows from each other.Accordingly, even though the tensile force in one row is biased in onedirection, the tensile force in a next row may be biased in a directionopposite to the one direction of the previous row, and thus, the tensileforces between the two rows may be offset. Therefore, the tensile forceapplied to the entire second mask MSK2 may be evenly or substantiallyevenly distributed, so that the deformation of the second mask MSK2,which may be caused by stress, may be reduced.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, eventhough the mask openings have a top/bottom or left/right asymmetricshape, the tensile force applied to the mask may be uniformly orsubstantially uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the maskby arranging the mask openings to be symmetrical. Accordingly, a localstress caused by the tensile force may be reduced, and the deformationof and damage to the mask may be reduced. As a result, the reliabilityof the mask and the display panel manufacturing process using the maskmay be improved.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are plan views of areas of display panels DP-1 andDP-2 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 12A and12B show areas according to embodiments corresponding to that of FIG.6C. Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure willbe described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B. InFIGS. 12A and 12B, the same reference numerals are used to denote thesame or substantially the same elements as those described above withreference to FIGS. 1A to 11C, and thus, redundant description thereofmay not be repeated.

Referring to FIG. 12A, the display panel DP-1 may include a plurality ofunit pixel groups UT-1. One unit pixel group UT-1 may include four firstcolor light emitting patterns EP1_G1, EP1_G2, EP1_G3, and EP1_G4, twosecond color light emitting patterns EP1_R1 and EP1_R2, and two thirdcolor light emitting patterns EP1_B1 and EP1_B2.

The unit pixel group UT-1 shown in FIG. 12A may be linearly symmetricalwith the unit pixel group UT shown in FIG. 6C about a symmetrical axisthat is parallel to or substantially parallel to the second directionD2. In more detail, the first color light emitting patterns EP1_G1,EP1_G2, EP1_G3, and EP1_G4 may include first color first light emittingpatterns EP1_G1 and EP1_G2 and first color second light emittingpatterns EP1_G3 and EP1_G4. The first color first light emittingpatterns EP1_G1 and EP1_G2 and the first color second light emittingpatterns EP1_G3 and EP1_G4 may include hypotenuses extending indifferent directions from each other. Each of the hypotenuses of thefirst color first light emitting patterns EP1_G1 and EP1_G2 may extendin the first diagonal direction S1, and each of the hypotenuses of thefirst color second light emitting patterns EP1_G3 and EP1_G4 may extendin the second diagonal direction S2.

Each of the first color second light emitting patterns EP1_G3 and EP1_G4may have the same or substantially the same shape as a shape obtainedwhen each of the first color first light emitting patterns EP1_G1 andEP1_G2 is flipped with respect to the symmetrical axis parallel to orsubstantially parallel to the second direction D2. In other words, theshapes obtained when the first color first light emitting patternsEP1_G1 and EP1_G2 are flipped with respect to the symmetrical axisparallel to or substantially parallel to the second direction D2 may bethe same or substantially the same as those of the first color secondlight emitting patterns EP1_G3 and EP1_G4, respectively.

In addition, shapes of the first color second light emitting patternsEP1_G3 and EP1_G4 may correspond to shapes obtained when the first colorfirst light emitting patterns EP1_G1 and EP1_G2 are rotated by about 90degrees in the clockwise direction. In other words, the first colorsecond light emitting patterns EP1_G3 and EP1_G4 may be the same orsubstantially the same as the first color first light emitting patternsEP1_G1 and EP1_G2 after the first color first light emitting patternsEP1_G1 and EP1_G2 are rotated by about 90 degrees in the clockwisedirection, and then moved (e.g., shifted) in a direction opposite to thesecond direction D2.

The second color light emitting patterns EP1_R1 and EP1_R2 may include asecond color first light emitting pattern EP1_R1 and a second colorsecond light emitting pattern EP1_R2, which are disposed in differentrows from each other. The second color first light emitting patternEP1_R1 may be disposed in a first row between the first color firstlight emitting patterns EP1_G1 and EP1_G2, and the second color secondlight emitting pattern EP1_R2 may be disposed in a second row betweenthe first color second light emitting patterns EP1_G3 and EP1_G4. Thesecond color first light emitting pattern EP1_R1 and the second colorsecond light emitting pattern EP1_R2 may be disposed to be staggeredwith each other in the second direction D2. Accordingly, the secondcolor first light emitting pattern EP1_R1 and the second color secondlight emitting pattern EP1_R2 may not overlap with each other whenviewed in the second direction D2.

The second color first light emitting pattern EP1_R1 and the secondcolor second light emitting pattern EP1_R2 may have different shapesfrom each other. The second color first light emitting pattern EP1_R1and the second color second light emitting pattern EP1_R2 may includehypotenuses extending in different directions from each other. Thehypotenuse of the second color first light emitting pattern EP1_R1 mayextend in the first diagonal direction S1, and the hypotenuse of thesecond color second light emitting pattern EP1_R2 may extend in thesecond diagonal direction S2.

The second color first light emitting pattern EP1_R1 and the secondcolor second light emitting pattern EP1_R2 may have shapes that aresymmetrical or substantially symmetrical to each other with respect tothe symmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel to the seconddirection D2. The second color first light emitting pattern EP1_R1 mayhave the shape obtained when the second color second light emittingpattern EP1_R2 is flipped. As an example, the second color first lightemitting pattern EP1_R1 may have the same or substantially the sameshape as the shape obtained when the second color second light emittingpattern EP1_R2 is rotated by about 90 degrees in the counterclockwisedirection, and then moved (e.g., shifted) on the plane.

The third color light emitting patterns EP1_B1 and EP1_B2 may include athird color first light emitting pattern EP1_B1 and a third color secondlight emitting pattern EP1_B2, which are disposed in different rows fromeach other. The third color first light emitting pattern EP1_B1 may bedisposed in the first row at a left side of the first color first lightemitting patterns EP1_G1 and EP1_G2, and the third color second lightemitting pattern EP1_B2 may be disposed in the second row at a rightside of the first color second light emitting patterns EP1_G3 andEP1_G4.

The third color first light emitting pattern EP1_B1 and the third colorsecond light emitting pattern EP1_B2 may have different shapes from eachother. A hypotenuse of the third color first light emitting patternEP1_B1 may extend in the first diagonal direction S1, and a hypotenuseof the third color second light emitting pattern EP1_B2 may extend inthe second diagonal direction S2.

The third color first light emitting pattern EP1_B1 and the third colorsecond light emitting pattern EP1_B2 may have shapes that aresymmetrical or substantially symmetrical to each other with respect tothe symmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel to the seconddirection D2. In more detail, the third color second light emittingpattern EP1_B2 may be the same or substantially the same as the thirdcolor first light emitting pattern EP1_B1 after the third color firstlight emitting pattern EP1_B1 is flipped, and then moved (e.g., shifted)on the plane. In addition, the third color first light emitting patternEP1_B1 may correspond to a shape obtained when the third color secondlight emitting pattern EP1_B2 is rotated by about 90 degrees in theclockwise direction. In more detail, the third color second lightemitting pattern EP1_B2 may be the same or substantially the same as thethird color first light emitting pattern EP1_B1 after the third colorfirst light emitting pattern EP1_B1 is rotated by about 90 degrees inthe clockwise direction, and then moved (e.g., shifted) on the plane.

The second color light emitting patterns EP1_R1 and EP_R2 may includehypotenuses facing the first color light emitting patterns EP1_G2 andEP1_G3, respectively, and may be linearly symmetrical with each other.The third color light emitting patterns EP1_B1 and EP1_B2 may includehypotenuses facing the first color light emitting patterns EP1_G1 andEP1_G4, respectively, and may be linearly symmetrical with each other.As an example, the second color first light emitting pattern EP1_R1 mayinclude the hypotenuse facing one first color first light emittingpattern EP1_G2 from among the first color first light emitting patternsEP1_G1 and EP1_G2, and may be linearly symmetrical with the first colorfirst light emitting pattern EP1_G2 with respect to the symmetrical axisparallel to or substantially parallel to a direction in which thehypotenuse extends (e.g., a symmetrical axis parallel to orsubstantially parallel to the first diagonal direction S1). The secondcolor second light emitting pattern EP1_R2 may include the hypotenusefacing one first color second light emitting pattern EP1_G3 from amongthe first color second light emitting patterns EP1_G3 and EP1_G4, andmay be linearly symmetrical with the first color second light emittingpattern EP1_G3 with respect to the symmetrical axis parallel to orsubstantially parallel to the direction in which the hypotenuse extends(e.g., a symmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel to thesecond diagonal direction S2).

The third color first light emitting pattern EP1_B1 may include thehypotenuse facing the other first color first light emitting patternEP1_G1 from among the first color first light emitting patterns EP1_G1and EP1_G2, and may be linearly symmetrical with the first color firstlight emitting pattern EP1_G1 with respect to the symmetrical axisparallel to or substantially parallel to the direction in which thehypotenuse extends (e.g., the symmetrical axis parallel to orsubstantially parallel to the first diagonal direction S1). The thirdcolor second light emitting pattern EP1_B2 may include the hypotenusefacing the other first color second light emitting pattern EP1_G4 fromamong the first color second light emitting patterns EP1_G3 and EP1_G4,and may be linearly symmetrical with the first color second lightemitting pattern EP1_G4 with respect to the symmetrical axis parallel toor substantially parallel to the direction in which the hypotenuseextends (e.g., the symmetrical axis parallel to or substantiallyparallel to the second diagonal direction S2).

Referring to FIG. 12B, an arrangement of four first color light emittingpatterns EP2_G1, EP2_G2, EP2_G3, and EP2_G4, two second color lightemitting patterns EP2_R1 and EP2_R2, and two third color light emittingpatterns EP2_B1 and EP2_B2, which form a unit pixel group UT-2 of thedisplay panel DP-2, may be different from the arrangement of the lightemitting patterns of the unit pixel groups UT and UT-1 described above.As an example, the unit pixel group UT-2 may include first color lightemitting patterns EP2_G1, EP2_G2, EP2_G3, and EP2_G4, which are arrangedin two rows, and the first color light emitting patterns arranged in thesame row as each other may have different shapes from each other.

In more detail, the first color light emitting patterns EP2_G1, EP2_G2,EP2_G3, and EP2_G4 may include two first color first light emittingpatterns EP2_G1 and EP2_G2 arranged in the same column as each other,and two first color second light emitting patterns EP2_G3 and EP2_G4arranged in the same column as each other and different from the columnin which the two first color first light emitting patterns EP2_G1 andEP2_G2 are arranged. In this case, the two first color first lightemitting patterns EP2_G1 and EP2_G2 may have the same or substantiallythe same shape as each other, and the two first color second lightemitting patterns EP2_G3 and EP2_G4 may have the same or substantiallythe same shape as each other. In other words, the first color firstlight emitting patterns EP2_G1 and EP2_G2 may be spaced apart from thefirst color second light emitting patterns EP2_G3 and EP2_G4 in thefirst direction D1, the two first color first light emitting patternsEP2_G1 and EP2_G2 may be arranged along the second direction D2, and thetwo first color second light emitting patterns EP2_G3 and EP2_G4 may bearranged along the second direction D2.

Each of the two first color first light emitting patterns EP2_G1 andEP2_G2 may have a right triangular shape, with a hypotenuse extending inthe first diagonal direction S1, and vertices each having a roundedshape. Each of the two first color second light emitting patterns EP2_G3and EP2_G4 may include a hypotenuse extending in the second diagonaldirection S2.

When the first color first light emitting patterns EP2_G1 and EP2_G2disposed at a left side is rotated by about 90 degrees in thecounterclockwise direction, and moved (e.g., shifted) on the plane, theshape of the first color first light emitting patterns EP2_G1 and EP2_G2may correspond to that of the first color second light emitting patternsEP2_G3 and EP2_G4 disposed at a relatively right side.

The second color light emitting patterns EP2_R1 and EP2_R2 may havedifferent shapes from each other. In the second color light emittingpatterns EP2_R1 and EP2_R2, a second color second light emitting patternEP2_R2 may have the shape corresponding to the shape obtained when asecond color first light emitting pattern EP2_R1 is rotated by about 90degrees in the counterclockwise direction. In addition, the second colorsecond light emitting pattern EP2_R2 may have the shape obtained whenthe second color first light emitting pattern EP2_R1 is flipped withrespect to a symmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel tothe first direction D1. In other words, the second color second lightemitting pattern EP2_R2 may have the same or substantially the sameshape as the shape obtained when the second color first light emittingpattern EP2_R1 is flipped vertically and moved (e.g., shifted).

The second color first light emitting pattern EP2_R1 may be disposedbetween the first color first light emitting pattern EP2_G1 and thefirst color second light emitting pattern EP2_G3 disposed at an upperside. The second color first light emitting pattern EP2_R1 may include ahypotenuse facing a hypotenuse of the first color first light emittingpattern EP2_G1 disposed at the upper side, a side facing the first colorfirst light emitting pattern EP2_G2 disposed at a lower side, and a sidefacing the first color second light emitting pattern EP2_G3 disposed atthe upper side. In other words, the second color first light emittingpattern EP2_R1 and the first color first light emitting pattern EP2_G1disposed at the upper side may be symmetrical or substantiallysymmetrical to each other with respect to the symmetrical axis parallelto or substantially parallel to the first diagonal direction S1. Inaddition, the second color first light emitting pattern EP2_R1 and thefirst color second light emitting pattern EP2_G3 disposed at the upperside may be symmetrical or substantially symmetrical to each other withrespect to the symmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel tothe second direction D2.

In the second color light emitting patterns EP2_R1 and EP2_R2, thesecond color second light emitting pattern EP2_R2 may be disposedbetween the first color second light emitting patterns EP2_G3 andEP2_G4. The second color second light emitting pattern EP2_R2 mayinclude a hypotenuse facing a hypotenuse of the first color second lightemitting pattern EP2_G4 disposed at the lower side, and a side facingthe first color second light emitting pattern EP2_G3 disposed at theupper side. In other words, the second color second light emittingpattern EP2_R2 and the first color second light emitting pattern EP_G4may be linearly symmetrical with respect to the symmetrical axisparallel to or substantially parallel to the second diagonal directionS2.

The third color light emitting patterns EP2_B1 and EP2_B2 may havedifferent shapes from each other. However, the shape of one of the thirdcolor light emitting patterns EP2_B1 and EP2_B2 may be the same orsubstantially the same as the shape obtained by rotating and then moving(e.g., shifting) the other of the third color light emitting patternsEP2_B1 and EP2_B2. In more detail, between the third color lightemitting patterns EP2_B1 and EP2_B2, a third color second light emittingpattern EP2_B2 may have the same or substantially the same shape as theshape obtained when a third color first light emitting pattern EP2_B1 isrotated by about 90 degrees in the clockwise direction, and then moved(e.g., shifted) on the plane. In addition, the third color second lightemitting pattern EP2_B2 may have the same or substantially the sameshape as the shape obtained when the third color first light emittingpattern EP2_B1 is rotated by about 90 degrees in the clockwise directionand then moved (e.g., shifted).

The third color first light emitting pattern EP2_B1 may include ahypotenuse facing the first color second light emitting pattern EP2_G3disposed at the upper side, and may be linearly symmetrical with thefirst color second light emitting pattern EP2_G3 with respect to thesecond diagonal direction S2.

The third color second light emitting pattern EP2_B2 may include ahypotenuse facing the first color first light emitting pattern EP2_G2disposed at the lower side, and a side facing the first color secondlight emitting pattern EP2_G4 disposed at the lower side. The thirdcolor second light emitting pattern EP2_B2 may be linearly symmetricalwith the first color second light emitting pattern EP2_G2 disposed atthe lower side with respect to the symmetrical axis parallel to orsubstantially parallel to the first diagonal direction S1. In addition,the third color second light emitting pattern EP2_B2 may be linearlysymmetrical with the first color second light emitting pattern EP_G4disposed at the lower side with respect to the symmetrical axis parallelto or substantially parallel to the second direction D2.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, thelight emitting patterns forming one unit pixel group UT-1 or UT-2 mayhave the shapes that are symmetrical or substantially symmetrical withone another, and thus, the openings of the mask, which correspond to thelight emitting patterns, may be arranged in the entire mask to besymmetrical or substantially symmetrical with one another. Accordingly,a local stress may be prevented or substantially prevented from beinggenerated when the mask is tensioned, and thus, damage to or deformationof the mask may be prevented or substantially prevented. Accordingly,the process reliability of the display panels DP-1 and DP-2 may beimproved.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, adisplay panel includes a pixel circuit including at least one thin filmtransistor, and a unit pixel group connected to the pixel circuit. Theunit pixel group includes four first color light emitting patterns, twosecond color light emitting patterns having different shapes from eachother, and two third color light emitting patterns having differentshapes from each other. The first, second, and third color lightemitting patterns are configured to display different colors,respectively. The first color light emitting patterns include two firstcolor first light emitting patterns having the same shape as each other,and two first color second light emitting patterns having the same shapeas each other that is different from the shape of the first color firstlight emitting patterns.

In an embodiment, each of the first, second, and third color lightemitting patterns has a triangular shape.

In an embodiment, the first color first light emitting patterns arearranged in a first direction, the first color first light emittingpatterns are spaced apart from the first color second light emittingpatterns in a second direction crossing the first direction, and thefirst color first light emitting patterns are linearly symmetrical withthe first color second light emitting patterns with respect to asymmetrical axis parallel to or substantially parallel to the seconddirection.

In an embodiment, the second color light emitting patterns are linearlysymmetrical with each other with respect to the symmetrical axisparallel to or substantially parallel to the second direction.

In an embodiment, the third color light emitting patterns are linearlysymmetrical with each other with respect to the symmetrical axisparallel to or substantially parallel to the second direction.

In an embodiment, the triangular shape is a right triangular shape, witha base extending in the first direction, and a height extending in asecond direction crossing the first direction.

In an embodiment, the second color light emitting patterns include asecond color first light emitting pattern disposed between the firstcolor first light emitting patterns, and a second color second lightemitting pattern disposed between the first color second light emittingpatterns.

In an embodiment, the second color first light emitting pattern arelinearly symmetrical with the second color second light emitting patternwith respect to the symmetrical axis extending in a direction parallelto or substantially parallel to the second direction.

In an embodiment, the third color light emitting patterns include athird color first light emitting pattern spaced apart from the secondcolor first light emitting pattern in the first direction, and a thirdcolor second light emitting pattern spaced apart from the second colorfirst light emitting pattern in the second direction. The second colorfirst light emitting pattern has the same shape as that of the thirdcolor first light emitting pattern, and has the shape different fromthat of the third color second light emitting pattern.

In an embodiment, the second color first light emitting pattern has ashape corresponding to a shape obtained by rotating the third colorsecond light emitting pattern by about 90 degrees in a counterclockwisedirection.

In an embodiment, the second color first light emitting pattern has ashape corresponding to a shape obtained by rotating the third colorsecond light emitting pattern by about 90 degrees in a clockwisedirection.

In an embodiment, the first color first light emitting pattern islinearly symmetrical with the second color first light emitting patternwith respect to a symmetrical axis extending in a direction parallel toor substantially parallel to a hypotenuse.

In an embodiment, the first color first light emitting pattern islinearly symmetrical with the first color second light emitting patternwith respect to a symmetrical axis extending in a direction parallel toor substantially parallel to the first direction.

In an embodiment, a minimum distance between the first color lightemitting patterns is equal to or greater than about 15 micrometers.

According to or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a metal maskincludes a first opening, and a second opening spaced apart from thefirst opening in a first direction, and having a shape different from ashape of the first opening. Each of the first opening and the secondopening has a left-right asymmetric shape, and the second opening hasthe same shape as the shape obtained when the first opening is rotatedby about 90 degrees and shifted.

In an embodiment, the first opening is provided in a plurality, and thefirst openings are arranged along a second direction crossing the firstdirection. The second opening is provided in a plurality, and the secondopenings are arranged along the second direction, and are spaced apartfrom the first openings in the first direction.

In an embodiment, the first opening is provided in a plurality, and thefirst openings are arranged along a second direction crossing the firstdirection. The second opening is provided in a plurality, are arrangedalong the second direction, and are spaced apart from the first openingsin the first direction. An angle between the first direction and thesecond direction is an acute angle.

In an embodiment, a distance in the second direction between the firstopenings is greater than a distance between the first opening and thesecond opening adjacent to the first opening in the first direction.

In an embodiment, each of the second openings has a shape correspondingto a shape obtained by rotating each of the first openings by about 90degrees in a counterclockwise direction.

In an embodiment, each of the second openings has a shape correspondingto a shape obtained by rotating each of the first openings by about 90degrees in a clockwise direction.

In an embodiment, each of the first opening and the second opening has aright triangular shape including vertices having a rounded shape.

In an embodiment, each of the vertices has a radius of curvature equalto or greater than about 8 micrometers.

In an embodiment, a minimum distance between the first opening and thesecond opening is equal to or greater than about 15 micrometers.

In an embodiment, each of the first opening and the second openingincludes a hypotenuse, and the hypotenuse of the first opening and thehypotenuse of the second opening extend in different directions fromeach other.

Although some embodiments have been described, those skilled in the artwill readily appreciate that various modifications are possible in theembodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. It will be understood that descriptions of features oraspects within each embodiment should typically be considered asavailable for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments,unless otherwise described. Thus, as would be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art, features, characteristics, and/or elementsdescribed in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singlyor in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elementsdescribed in connection with other embodiments unless otherwisespecifically indicated. Therefore, it is to be understood that theforegoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and is not tobe construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein,and that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well asother example embodiments, are intended to be included within the spiritand scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims,and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display panel comprising: a pixel circuitcomprising at least one thin film transistor; and a unit pixel groupconnected to the pixel circuit, the unit pixel group comprising: fourfirst color light emitting patterns; two second color light emittingpatterns having different shapes from each other; and two third colorlight emitting patterns having different shapes from each other, whereinthe first, second, and third color light emitting patterns areconfigured to display different colors from one another, and wherein thefirst color light emitting patterns comprise: two first color firstlight emitting patterns having the same shape as each other; and twofirst color second light emitting patterns having the same shape as eachother, and different from the shape of the first color first lightemitting patterns.
 2. The display panel of claim 1, wherein each of thefirst, second, and third color light emitting patterns has a triangularshape.
 3. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the first color secondlight emitting patterns have the same shape as a shape obtained byrotating the first color first light emitting patterns by about 90degrees, and shifting the rotated first color first light emittingpatterns.
 4. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the second colorlight emitting patterns comprise: a second color first light emittingpattern located between the first color first light emitting patterns;and a second color second light emitting pattern located between thefirst color second light emitting patterns.
 5. The display panel ofclaim 4, wherein directions in which sides of the second color firstlight emitting pattern facing the first color first light emittingpatterns extend form an acute angle, and directions in which sides ofthe second color second light emitting pattern facing the first colorsecond light emitting patterns extend form an acute angle.
 6. Thedisplay panel of claim 4, wherein the second color second light emittingpattern has the same shape as a shape obtained by rotating the secondcolor first light emitting pattern by about 90 degrees, and shifting therotated second color first light emitting pattern.
 7. The display panelof claim 4, wherein the third color light emitting patterns comprise: athird color first light emitting pattern comprising a side facing one ofthe first color first light emitting patterns, or one of the first colorsecond light emitting patterns; and a third color second light emittingpattern located between another of the first color first light emittingpatterns and another of the first color second light emitting patterns,and wherein directions in which sides of the third color second lightemitting pattern facing the first color first light emitting pattern andthe first color second light emitting pattern extend form an acuteangle.
 8. The display panel of claim 7, wherein the third color secondlight emitting pattern has the same shape as a shape obtained byrotating the third color first light emitting pattern by about 90degrees, and shifting the rotated third color first light emittingpattern.
 9. The display panel of claim 7, wherein the first color lightemitting patterns are arranged along a first direction, and the firstcolor first light emitting patterns and the first color second lightemitting patterns are spaced from each other in a second directioncrossing the first direction.
 10. The display panel of claim 9, whereinthe second color first light emitting pattern and the third color firstlight emitting pattern are arranged along the first direction, and havethe same shape as each other.
 11. The display panel of claim 9, whereinthe second color light emitting patterns and the third color lightemitting patterns are linearly symmetrical with the first color lightemitting patterns with respect to a symmetrical axis parallel to adiagonal direction crossing the first and second directions.
 12. Thedisplay panel of claim 1, wherein a minimum distance between the firstcolor light emitting patterns is greater than or equal to about 15micrometers.
 13. A metal mask comprising: a first opening: and a secondopening spaced from the first opening in a first direction, and having ashape different from a shape of the first opening, wherein each of thefirst opening and the second opening has a left-right asymmetric shape,and the second opening has the same shape as a shape obtained byrotating the first opening by about 90 degrees, and shifting the rotatedfirst opening.
 14. The metal mask of claim 13, wherein the first openingcomprises a plurality of first openings, the second opening comprises aplurality of second openings, and the first openings and the secondopenings are arranged along a first direction, and a second directioncrossing the first direction, and wherein the first openings arealternately arranged with the second openings along the seconddirection.
 15. The metal mask of claim 14, wherein the first directionand the second direction form an acute angle.
 16. The metal mask ofclaim 14, wherein a distance in the second direction between the firstopenings is greater than a distance between the first opening and thesecond opening adjacent to the first opening in the first direction. 17.The metal mask of claim 13, wherein the rotation of the first opening isin a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction.
 18. The metalmask of claim 13, wherein each of the first opening and the secondopening has a right triangular shape including vertices having a roundedshape.
 19. The metal mask of claim 18, wherein each of the vertices hasa radius of curvature greater than or equal to about 8 micrometers. 20.The metal mask of claim 18, wherein a minimum distance between the firstopening and the second opening is greater than or equal to about 15micrometers.